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…

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.]

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Earth Day 2012, Sensible Six Beauty Products: Hair, Skin, & Nails

This slideshow shows my top six favorite hair, skin, and nail 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 Safer Nail Polish: Zoya Nail Lacquer

Zoya Nail Lacquer is toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate free. Using safer nail polish allows you to paint your nails as often as you'd like without worrying about harsh chemicals or irritants, especially if you're pregnant.

The Zoya Badge of Safety

Zoya is considered a safe and healthy polish for pregnant moms and smart women worldwide. This is also great if you have children, such as teenagers, and would prefer them to use safer nail lacquer.

Zoya Beach Collection - Summer 2012

The six-piece Zoya Beach Collection for summer 2012 features bright hues for pretty fingers and toes! I love that this collection mixes brights with pastels.

Zoya Surf Collection - Summer 2012

The Zoya Surf Collection for summer 2012 features shimmering, metallic versions of the previous "Beach Collection." The colors are very similar except that these have a ton of gorgeous shimmer in them.

The Natural Cleanser: Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash

This cleanser contains no perfumes or dyes, as well as vital vitamins and nutrients that your skin needs. If your skin is sensitive or you would prefer to use a face wash with as few additives as possible, this is a great option!

Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash

I stumbled across this face wash in my local drugstore, which happens to be a skincare brand from the United Kingdom. Since this product contains no perfumes or dyes, it is super gentle on your skin.

The Natural Shampoo & Conditioner in One: L'oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner

This brand new product is a shampoo and a conditioner in one. It contains no sulfate, which often only further dries out your hair. This is a low-lathering formula that you place on your scalp and hair, massage in, and then rinse out.

L'oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner

This product not only saves time, but it also saves your hair. The sulfate-free product keeps your hair from dying out, especially if your hair is coarse, curly, or color-treated. I really love this new product and have noticed a huge difference in my hair!

The All-Natural Makeup Primer: Reviva Labs Makeup Primer

Makeup primer is a must-have for applying underneath foundation and/or concealer. This product will fill in lines, conceal pores, and control excess oil. Most makeup primer's break my skin out, but this all-natural formula leaves your skin prepped and primed, smooth as can be, for makeup.

Reviva Labs Makeup Primer

The ingredients in this makeup primer include Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Olive Oil, and Coenzyme Q10. There are no harsh ingredients like silicone in it which tends to cause breakouts.

The Sea Moisturizer: Gabriel Cosmetics Seaweed Nourishing Moisturizer

This moisturizer is formulated for normal to combination skin, and is super protective for your skin. With blue green algae from the sea and rose hip seed oil, it will smooth your skin and prevent aging.

Global Inspired Natural Beauty: Bella Lucce Tropical Hawaiian Fruit Peel

Bella Lucce is a globally inspired spa and beauty company that creates products from nature around the world. This company has been featured in Vegetarian Times for their cruelty-free, natural products. Every product feels so luxurious and brings the spa to your home. Also, the owner and company is from Columbia, South Carolina, where I reside!

Bella Lucce Tropical Hawaiian Fruit Peel

The beautiful packaging is only half of the luxury. This face peel comes in powder form, which you then mix with some water or warm milk. The attached spa fan brush helps you apply the product. This product can be used on the face and on the body.

Bella Lucce Tropical Hawaiian Fruit Peel

This peel has natural vitamins and enzymes harvested from tropical coconuts, mangoes, papayas, and pineapples. This will purify your skin and transport you to a tropical place. Plus, having the product in powder form means it will last you for a very long time!

Beauty Gala's Earth Day 2012 Appreciation

Questions or comments about any of the products listed here? Feel free to comment below. Stay tuned for a makeup slideshow!

[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.]

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…

Since I don’t believe in monthly favorites, I decided I would do a “current favorites” video, showing you the products I’ve been using and loving for the past few months. Feel free to leave a comment below!

On Friday, October 28th, my husband and I celebrated three years of marriage. Without getting too mushy on you, I will say that time with him seems to not exist, as it just simply flies by. We married on the beach of Kapalua Bay, in Maui, Hawaii, and it was the most heavenly sixteen days on the islands. Later that night, I wanted to make sure that I looked all dolled up for the occasion. I stuck with simple colors and shades, but amped it up with some sparkle and products that gave it serious staying power. If you’d like to see my anniversary makeup look, the products I used, and how I achieved the look, read more…

It’s officially October, and my absolute favorite month of the entire year. My entire life, October has always been the busiest month of the year, with my mom and I having a birthday exactly a week apart, and then Halloween festivities. Since getting married, my wedding anniversary now falls the day before my birthday toward the end of the month, making the month even more exciting. I admit I am a sucker for all things Halloween-themed, as well. Who can resist the bags of candy, the scary and crazy costumes, and pumpkins? Bath & Body Works is always incredible when it comes to seasonal items, and Halloween is no different. These PocketBac Anti-Bacterial Hand Gels fit in the palm of your hand, and straight into your purse or gym bag without weighing you down. It also helps that Bath & Body Works made the packaging adorable, and the scents really different and fun. To see these spooktacular Halloween themed pocket hand sanitizers, read more…

Halloween is by far the runner-up to Christmas in my list of favorite holidays ever. In fact, sometimes I think I enjoy Halloween even more, but just don’t have as much fun with it anymore since I’m an adult. Either way, I go absolutely bonkers over anything that is Halloween themed, and these Bath & Body Works Halloween Spook-tacular products fit the bill. Bath & Body Works, in general, has been doing an incredible job with their fall displays and products, offering a huge assortment of themed products, as well as scented candles and limited edition scents. To see more of what Bath & Body Works is offering this season, read more…

When I was invited to take the Flavor Over Fizz Challenge, I was excited and a bit nervous to say the least. I fall into the “not-a-huge-soda-drinker-but-get-tired-of-water” category. I do occasionally crave my diet soda from time to time, especially with certain meals, but I tend to simply get bored of plain old water. Even when dressed up with a shot of lemon, I still eventually want something with some flavor, some pizzazz to it. You know how I feel about keeping the inside of your body healthy and hydrated for your most beautiful canvas to work with, always. Crystal Light, meet South Carolina. It’s hotter than ever, the humidity is enough to steam your glasses, and South Carolina is need of a serious Crystal Light Cooldown. Everyone adores a beautiful looking drink, so why not dress it up to match the flavor? To see what happens when Crystal Light meets South Carolina, read more…