One of my fondest memories growing up is collecting Caboodles to store my “makeup” in. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t always makeup, but more like hair scrunchies, slap bracelets, and whatever my mom would give me from her makeup collection, but the storage was the coolest part. Everyone I knew owned one, and they came in different colors and sizes. Every year I would ask for another one, and every year I would happily wake up on Christmas morning, shredding the wrapping paper open to find a shiny new Caboodles container! Now known as the “Classic,” they still sell Caboodles, and have expanded their brand beautifully. Caboodles is twenty-five years old, and celebrating strong with a gorgeous collection of modern, updated makeup storage and organization. In the above video, I wanted to show you in detail the two products I love, as well as how I use them, and a little bit of my makeup storage. To see photographs of two products from their collection, as well, read more…

Manna Kadar Cosmetics has some gorgeous makeup in their collection, but when it comes to blush, they have this on lock-down. Orgasmic is a stunning pink-peach blush with a luminous golden sheen. It is universally flattering on every single skin tone, and it brightens your complexion like you wouldn’t believe. I’m a newbie to the actual cosmetics line, but their motto is “beauty simplified,” which for my busy lifestyle is always appreciated. This blush can also be used as an eyeshadow, and it would be especially amazing for those of us with blue or green eyes. This blush takes over the spot where NARS “Orgasm” was, because it’s every bit as pretty, and every bit as flattering. To see photographs and swatches, read more…

When I was given the chance to write a post about Neutrogena Naturals, an eco-friendly skincare line, I was extremely excited. I am very much an advocate for being eco-conscious, and I love everything outdoors. When it comes to my skin, going as natural as possible is one of my biggest concerns. Our skin is delicate, and often times skincare with harsh chemicals and preservatives in them can irritate our skin with or without us knowing it. This Neutrogena Naturals line is a fabulous alternative to products with harsh dyes, chemicals, and preservatives in them, and the line has something for every skincare need. I am going to be taking you through seven of the products in this line, giving you my thoughts on each. Also, these products came in an amazing goodie bag, and I want to share the other pieces that came with it, and my thoughts on those, too. For plenty of eco-friendly yummy goodness, read more…

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Earth Day 2012, Sensible Six Beauty Products: Makeup

This slideshow shows my top six favorite makeup products that are considered sensible for Earth Day. Some of them are natural and some of them are eco-friendly, but all of them are just plain smart. Click through the photographs to see each product and learn more about them!

The Organic Mascara: Physician's Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara

If you've got sensitive eyes, or you wear contact lenses, there is hope for you! Physician's Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara is 100% free of harsh chemicals, synthetic preservatives, dyes, and parabens. It also happens to be 100% cruelty-free.

Physician's Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara

This mascara is the perfect example of a product where you don't need to sacrifice big lashes for natural ingredients. The large mascara wand enhances your eyelashes, making them look thicker and longer, without damaging them.

The All-in-One Concealer: Miracle Skin Transformer

The Miracle Skin Transformer is a treat and conceal product for your skin that includes natural plant complex and loads of antioxidants for your skin. You can treat, cover, and correct, all at the same time!

Miracle Skin Transformer

The Miracle Skin Transformer comes in shades from light to dark, as well as translucent. It glides over your skin like a concealer, only it feels extremely lightweight. The product covers dark circles, and any pigmentation spots you may have. It feels super smooth when you apply it, and treats your skin concerns while correcting them!

The Natural Flush: Tarte Cosmetics Natural Cheek Stain

Tarte Cosmetics is an overall amazing brand to check out if you love natural cosmetic products. They also happen to be the queen of cheek stains. Their cheek stains are formulated without any parabens, preservatives, mineral oil, and fragrance. Oh, and on top of that, they have a ton of antioxidants in them, making them like a vitamin cocktail for your cheeks!

Tarte Natural Cheek Stain

My particular Tarte Cheek Stain came in a makeup kit, so it is smaller than the full-sized product. The color is rich and luxurious, but also sheer enough to blend out beautifully. A light shimmer ensures that the light will hit your cheeks just right. This is also a wonderful multi-use product that can be used for your lips as well!

The International Lip Balm: The Body Shop Satsuma Shimmer Born Lippy

The Body Shop supports community fair trade, which means they receive the ingredients to make their products from various regions with humane practices. The Satsuma Shimmer Born Lippy contains beeswax from Zambia, Africa, which is completely organic and plays a part in protecting and preserving the forest, as well as providing an income for the beekeepers.

The Body Shop Satsuma Shimmer Born Lippy

This particular lip balm has a hint of shimmer and a splash of zest from natural orange and satsuma oils. Not only will this keep your lips incredibly moisturized, you can feel good knowing that you are supporting fair trade practices, as well as the preservation of fine, exotic, natural ingredients internationally.

The Shadow/Liner Made of Clay: Tarte Cosmetics emphasEYES Waterproof Clay Shadow/Liner

Tarte's emphasEYES Clay Shadow/Liner is a multi-tasking product that won't budge, even under water. It comes in a variety of colors to suit your preferences, and the product is made from all-natural clay.

Tarte Cosmetics emphasEYES Waterproof Shadow/Liner

I chose to go with "Bronze," which is a dark bronze with a hint of golden shimmer. This product can be used as an all-over wash on the eyelid, a crease color, or as an eyeliner. The all-natural clay formula will stay put until you take it off with makeup remover, making it perfect for the hot and humid months ahead.

The Foundation Made of Fruit: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer is 100% vegan and natural, and made from fruit! How cool is that? The ingredient list contains peach, apricot, carrot, pomegranate, rosemary, oregano, and more! The pump application allows you to dispense an exact amount of product, as well, which I love.

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

Since this product is a tinted moisturizer, you will be getting more sheer, light coverage. It glides over the skin beautifully while still protecting from the harmful rays of the sun with SPF 20. It is available in different skin shades to suit your complexion, as well.

Beauty Gala's Earth Day 2012 Appreciation

Questions or comments about any of the products listed here? Feel free to comment below. May you have a VERY joyful Earth Day, and don't forget to partake in something, even if it is a small act. Mother Nature will surely appreciate your kindness.

[ALL PHOTOGRAPHY ON THIS SITE IS TAKEN BY REBECCA KAZIMIR. NO PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.]

[This article contains a sample product sent by PR. Beauty Gala's opinions are our own, and we commit ourselves to honesty in our reviews and descriptions at all times. Sample products are not guaranteed a review. For consideration of your product, please send all PR requests to Rebecca@beautygala.com, or by using our Press Inquiry Form.]

All hail the glorious shade of tangerine this season! Tangerine, mandarin, coral, and every other shade of orange you can imagine is everywhere this spring and summer. The MAC Cosmetics Très Cheek Collection is a limited edition collection of six blushes, with Modern Mandarin being one of them. I was instantly attracted to this shade the most because I seem to have my eye on everything coral and tangerine lately, and also because it’s very unique to my makeup collection. This shade is so insanely vibrant and pigmented that it can be worn boldly or applied lightly for a beautiful “just-got-back-from-running” flush. To see photographs and cheek swatches, read more…

The third and final look in my LORAC Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette Series is SMOKEY. The smokey look is all about being sultry, sexy, and sophisticated. You can still amp your eyes up in a sophisticated way with a neutral palette of colors by creating a gorgeous bronzed smokey eye. This look is inspired by the always gorgeous Olivia Wilde who is often seen in bronze and chocolate smokey eyes. If you have blue or green eyes, this look is going to make your eyes look even lighter, and if your eyes are hazel or brown, this look will make them look extra sparkly. To see how to achieve this look and plenty more photographs of the finished look, read more…

The second look in my LORAC Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette Series is all about being playful, colorful, and fun. Neutral eyeshadow shades are the perfect complement to some brightness, whether it be on your lips, cheeks, or even your eyes, in the form of a bold eyeliner. I decided to add some sparkling turquoise eye liner to give the look a major pop and create some fun. This is actually my favorite way to wear really bright eyeliner and I regularly pair nude eyeshadow shades with brights along the lash line.  To see photographs and a tutorial on this look, read more…

I decided to do a three-part series of makeup looks using the LORAC Unzipped Palette that I just reviewed and swatched here on Beauty Gala. It’s a gorgeous palette of shimmery and matte nude shades and the possibilities are endless! I decided my first look would be a “GLAM” look, the type you’d wear for that classic, bombshell, night-out-on-the-town face. To see the tutorial and plenty more photographs of the look, read more…

I had been contemplating investing in a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick for awhile now, but just never made the plunge. Then I was watching the Demi Lovato documentary “Stay Strong,” and she was using her Shimmer Brick in “Bronze,” and I thought to myself, “I have to have it…now!” Strange places I get my inspiration, I know. I decided to go with Nectar because it reminded me a lot of the infamous NARS “Orgasm” blush that has the most gorgeous peachy-pink shimmer glow to it. Inside I have a lot of photographs and swatches, so read more…

When it comes to foundations, I’m always trying the newest ones that come out and hoping they are the holy grail of product for me. Fortunately, I stumbled upon L’oreal True Match Foundation last year, and I have been loving it since then. Also, get this…you can actually download the L’oreal Matchmaster App for your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and get a personalized match to your complexion and skin tone, with notes about what type of undertones your skin has! Where will technology take us next? To see my review, photographs, swatches, how I apply this foundation, as well as some screenshots of the amazing Matchmaster app, read more…