Christina Alyce Beauty: makeup

I have been wanting to try a subscription from Goodbeing for a while now, because they always seem to have the perfect variety of items in each box, and I love that they tailor your box to your profile, and even let you pick 1-2 items of your choice to include in your box each month! I was offered a box for review, and I jumped at the chance! I missed my pick window this time around, so each item was a surprise this month. The total value of my box came to over $90, which is a fantastic deal considering a subscription is only $24.95 each month. Below, I dive a little deeper into each item with a mini review, and have some offers for you, too!

Everwell for Life Everbiotics
My Sample: 5 sticks – $6.83 value
Full Size: 30 sticks – $40.99
I have been trying to incorporate more probiotics into my diet for a few months now, because I have noticed a major difference in my skin when I do. Typically I stick to yogurt and Dr Braggs Nutritional yeast, so it was a nice change of pace to have a yummy drink mix instead! This also has the added benefits of prebiotics, which my usual yogurt doesn't contain. This drink mix is a great way to support your immune system during cold season too! I love to just pour a packet into my water bottle, shake it up, and go! These are strawberry flavored and I really like drinking this after a meal instead of grabbing desert. I've been eating way too many sweets over the past year, so I'm sure my body appreciates substituting the candy for something with health benefits once in a while! My only complaint is that this mix is sweetened with Stevia, which I don't love the aftertaste of. I'm sure it's just because I'm a refined sugar addict, so I'm more used to the taste of traditional sugar!

K. Voss MagiK Shimmer
Full Size/My Sample: 2oz - $28
I'm a shimmer and glitter addict, so I was really excited to try this lotion. It's lightweight and subtly shimmery, which would make it perfect for shorts weather! the grape seed oil, avocado butter, and shea butter melted right into my skin and left no residue on the skin. The sandalwood scent confirms that this is the perfect beachy, summertime product to make your skin glow.

Sahajan Restorative Eye Cream
My Sample: 8 mL / $25.60
Full Size: 15 mL / $48.00
This brightening eye cream was inspired by the ancient practices of Ayurveda, by a former pharmaceutical executive. This product is the perfect marriage of science and nature. Ingredients like honey, neem oil, and Triphala fight signs of aging while coconut oil, mango seed butter, and apricot kernel oil moisturize. I have been struggling with under eye circles lately, so I am really excited to see if this product is able to make a noticeable difference with regular use. But, as far as first impressions go, this product is hydrating and does not irritate my eyes. It also has a unique, herbal smell that I really enjoy.

Yarok Feed Your Ends
Full Size: 8oz - $27.20
My Sample: 20oz - $13.20
This multi use spray is actually something I am already familiar with, because I won a full size in a prior giveaway from Goodbeing! I use it regularly after washing my hair as a heat protect and, and it is perfect for breathing life back into second or third-day curls. Jojoba, Grape seed oil, and apricot kernel oil add lightweight moisture to the hair and protect it from damage during heat styling. I'm happy that I have a travel sized bottle to keep in my bag for touch ups!

Au Natural Creme de la Creme Eye Shadow in Coffee
Full Size: 4 grams - $24
My Sample: 3 grams - $18
I own many eye shadows, but strangely enough, none are cream formulas. Creams have always intimidated me, (until this year I had refused to wear cream blush!) because I am convinced they just don't blend out. This shadow has proven me wrong, with a silky texture that creates the perfect wash of color over the lid. I have really enjoyed wearing this shadow all over my lid without any other shadows, for a really simple look. The bronzy brown color is a shade I would have gravitated toward if I had been able to pick my shade, and it flatters my blue eyes.

Overall, I am really enjoying Goodbeing, and I cannot wait for my next box! If you'd like to join, you can do so here. They are currently offering some really fun gift with purchase deals, so check those out on the home page! Goodbeing also offers 20% off gift memberships for current members, which

makes it great for gifting this holiday season!

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I follow a few brands and private bloggers who post some awesome clean beauty swap suggestions on their social media, so I thought I'd join in with a few swaps of my own! This may end up being a series if it's well received, so let me know in the comments if there's a conventional product you've been trying to find a cleaner alternative for, and I'll gladly do a post about it! These 5 products are all ones I had experience with prior to my transition to green beauty, or that I know are incredibly popular, but just not very good for you! To shop the clean suggestions, just click on the product name! Some may be affiliate links, which help to keep my blog running.

The Body Shop's Body Butter vs. 100% Pure's Whipped Body Butter

The Body Shop's body butter is a massively popular item, but did you know it contains artificial colorants and fragrance, both of which have links to cancer, as well as a whole host of other ill-health effects? It also contains disodium EDTA which, while not inherently toxic itself, increases the absorption of other potentially dangerous ingredients. The Environmental Working Group warns that the surfactant PEG-100 Stearate has strong links to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, contamination concerns, irritation, and organ system toxicity. And, ingredients aside, do we really want to be supporting a company owned by L'Oreal, one of the biggest companies that still uses the barbaric practice of animal testing? I certainly don't. The Body Shop may claim to be cruelty free, but how can that be so if your profits are supporting the parent company's animal testing? There is a disconnect here, and this is where 100% Pure comes in. The whipped body butters from 100% Pure are completely naturally derived, with the first 5 ingredients consisting of natural butters, oils, and aloe. No water thinning out this formula or glycerine to give the illusion of hydrating, like in TBS's product. All ingredients are completely plant derived, down to the scent. And those scents! I linked above to the coconut scented body butter, but they carry everything from herbal scents like eucalyptus and lavender, citrus/fruity scents like lime, and mangosteen, to sweet ones like vanilla and almond honey. See them all here, as well as their coordinating body washes, scrubs, and lotions! I also really love that 100% Pure always has great gifts with purchase and a fabulous rewards program. And of course, they are 100% cruelty free.

Lush's Twilight Bath Bomb vs. Moon Body Soul's Moon Ball

It's no secret that I used to be a major Lushie (hell, that's how this blog really got started after all!) but after some major skin irritation that I'm still healing from a year and a half later, I decided to do some research. What I found was a whole host of irritants like sulfates, artificial fragrance, and FD&C dyes. At least one of these ingredients is lurking in every. single. Lush. product. Yep, I checked. Even the fresh face masks contain fragrance in addition to the natural essential oils, wtf?! We know fragrance has links to cancer as stated above, but it's also a major skin irritant! Also, SLSA is known to be mildly irritating to the skin, and pollutes aquatic eco systems. Petroleum derived FD&C dyes have proven links to cancer [PDF].

If you don't mind a less colorful alternative to Twilight from Lush, (and after reading the risks above, I doubt you do!), moon body soul offers a wonderfully natural alternative, with a similar lavender vanilla scent. The are also working on naturally colored options, and have recently introduced a green citrus and cannabis moon ball called High Moon, and another called Blue Moon, scented with Jasmine and Blue Tansy. If you aren't into bath bombs, they also offer some wonderful bath soaks and body scrubs.

Urban Decay's Naked Palettes vs. Silk Naturals' Bare Necessities Eyeshadow Sets

Urban Decay's Naked Palettes are easily one of the most popular eye shadow collections on the market today. Unfortunately, these shadows are packed with ingredients such as talc, which has been in the news a lot lately in regards to contamination with asbestos and multiple heavy metals, as well as a case involving Johnson & Jonson products accused of causing ovarian cancer. Another concerning ingredient is zinc stearate, which is harmful when inhaled. Multiple peer reviewed cases are cited here. There is also the hotly debated issue of parabens. Parabens are preservatives that have been shown to absorb and accumulate in the body, have effects on the endocrine system, and cause cell death. Sodium dehydroacetate is another ingredient of concern, with links to endocrine disruption, skin irritation, and developmental and reproductive toxicity. And of course, to get those colors they use FD&C dyes in many of the shades.

For a natural line of product with near-identical shades that perform just as well (or even better), there really is no better choice than Silk Naturals. I previously wrote a post about their dupe for the Too Faced Sweet Peach palette, and their Bare Necessities palettes are just as good. They carry perfect dupes for Urban Decay's Naked 1, 2, 3, Smoky, and Basics 1 & 2, and Ultimate Basics. I really hope they're planning to do a dupe for the Naked Heat palette next! All shadows are vegan, gluten free, and all natural.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub vs. Acure's Pore Clarifying Facial Scrub

Oh, St. Ives. How did such an awful product gain such enormous popularity? And I'm not even talking about the ingredients that have the potential to make you sick, just the fact that it's so ineffective at caring for the skin! The main pitch that St. Ives sells you is that they use walnut shells as an exfoliator. Natural, yes, but detrimental to the skin. Ground walnut shell is incredibly harsh on the skin, and creates micro tears that causes inflammation, which then leads to premature aging. Not to mention, they're marketing these harsh products as daily cleansers, when you should never exfoliate more than a few times a week maximum, no mater your skin type (most people's skin is happiest at one or two times weekly). People with blemished skin, which is whom the Blemish Control scrub is marketed to, really should not be using any type of physical scrub on their skin, because it will only further irritate the inflammation they are experiencing (in these cases, gentle enzymes and acids are your best friend). Along with these harsh granules, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Glyceryl Stearate, fragrance, and PEG-100 Stearate appear on the ingredient list too.

For a more gentle alternative, I always recommend Acure's pore clarifying facial scrub. They are on the more affordable end of green beauty, which I know is the draw of St. Ives. Of course, with quality natural ingredients, theres just no such thing as a $2 face scrub. But I promise your skin will thank you for the minor upgrade! Acure's Pore Clarifying facial scrub contains natural oils, clays, and antioxidants, as well as jojoba esters to gently exfoliate.

Covergirl Lashblast Length vs. W3LL PEOPLE Expressionist

This Covergirl Mascara has actually been discontinued, so for those disappointed they can no longer find it anymore may be happy to know there is a clean version that performs very similarly, and doesn't sell for $50+ a tube on eBay! Covergirl contained parabens, undisclosed synthetic wax, highly irritating Triethanolamine, multiple non-biodegradable polymers and propolyene glycol.

W3LL People's mascara has the same lengthening effect on the lashes as Lash Blast, and doesnt clump or add excessive volume. it's the perfect natural looking daytime mascara. The ingredients list is refreshingly natural too, with a beeswax and caranuba wax base, and no irritants. Unlike Covergirl, W3LL PEOPLE does not test their ingredients or finished product on animals. It also comes in a variety of fun colors if want something a little different!

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Metallic and sparkly gold makeup, particularly for the lips, has definitely been trending lately-probably thanks to the elusive and totally swoon-worthy Pat McGrath kits. Of course, all of her products are perpetually sold out, and the ingredients are a bit of a mystery anyway, so they're pretty much out of the question for me. Luckily, clean brand Bite Beauty came out with some limited edition products this past holiday that evoke a similar feel. I originally set out to find the gold lip gloss and lipstick, but my local Sephora does not stock them, and once I saw the products in the Opal shade, I knew it was meant to be.

The Opal lipstick is their Creme lipstick formula, and is 97% natural. The texture is almost like a lip balm. It feels hydrating and creamy, but does not sit heavily on the lips. The ingredients include waxes such as calendelilla wax, beeswax, and jojoba wax, and oils ranging from argan, to safflower to sesame. It glides onto the lips smoothly and sits well- it does not slide around or get caught in any dry patches you may have. On the contrary, it leaves your lips feeling more conditioned than they were before application. My only gripe with this product is the wear time- when worn by itself it does not last very long on the lips, and I find myself reapplying every hour or so to bring back the shimmer. But a little extra upkeep is worth it with this, the opalescent sheen it gives the lips is subtle but beautiful. When layered over liner or another lipstick, it cools down the look, and gives whatever is underneath it a beautiful milkiness. I love layering this over my Rituel de Fille lipstick in the shade Datura, because it turns it into a creamy, blue toned pink.

The Opal lipgloss can also be layered over other shades, for a glossier look. It contains many of the same oils and butters as its lipstick counterpart, and is just as moisturizing. It works well over top the lipstick to intensify the opalescent effect, but is not as striking as the lipstick is on it's own. It's a lovely texture and does not feel overly sticky or goopy.
I really enjoy both of these products, and I think they are a beautiful, ethereal addition to any makeup look. If you only have room for one of the two products in your budget, I would recommend the lipstick over the gloss, only because it offers slightly more pigmentation. I am excited to try more products from Bite Beauty in the future!

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I rarely make new year's resolutions, and this article sums up why pretty well. So instead of actual resolutions, I thought I would share some general beauty-related goals that I am working toward. I have been working on most of these for a month or longer already.

Drink More Water and Less Soda I really struggle to drink enough water on a daily basis (many days I struggle to drink even half of what I should) and it leaves my skin and lips incredibly dry. I have also been reaching more for soda the past year than I ever have before, which is an incredibly unhealthy habit. Lack of hydration and increased sugar intake are a terrible combination for your skin! My office has an endless supply of water bottles so I have been trying to take advantage of this, and I have been doing okay. For my weight, I should be drinking roughly 77oz of water a day, so I split my day into segments and try to finish a water bottle within each allotted time period (for example, I try to drink one whole 17oz water in the morning, before lunchtime). I still have trouble meeting the goals every single day, but having more of a schedule does help overall. The weekends are much harder because I'm often out and about or drinking out of various sized glasses when I'm home. I would like to start using a reusable glass water bottle for more measured drinking on the weekends, and so I am producing less waste during the week.
Stick to a Consistent Skincare Routine 2016 was a roller coaster ride for my poor skin. I began the year as an avid Lush user, briefly switched to Korean skincare in the Spring, and then found a home in the world of natural and; nontoxic beauty for the second half of the year, all the while trying out 3 or 4 different forms of birth control in an attempt to get my hormonal acne under control. I rarely would use the same few products consistently, so of course with the hormonal side of things factored in, it's silly to expect that my skin would calm down and clear up. I have had a pretty set routine for a little over a month now, and I think I am beginning to notice some improvement in my breakouts, and I am determined to keep it up.
Stop Picking at my Skin This will undoubtedly be the most difficult goal for me. I have briefly mentioned before that I pick at my skin, and its more than just a bad habit. Dermatillomania is a compulsion defined as "the repetitive picking at one's own skin to the extent of causing damage." Acne and anxiety trigger my picking most, so I need to work on getting those two things under control, and to make a more conscious effort to not pick in the first place. Touching my skin certainly does not help my acne problem, so it's a bit of a vicious cycle- acne causes picking, which causes more acne in turn. I tend to mindlessly pick a lot in the car while I'm driving (not looking in the mirror, just running my fingers over my face, feeling for imperfections) and I have started to make an attempt to always keep both hands glued to the wheel so they can't wander.
Use Up Products I Have....and stop buying products I don't need. To say I love skincare and makeup is an understatement. Trying out new products is one of my favorite things ever, but unfortunately that leaves my bank account less than happy. I have accumulated quite the stash over the past few months, and I need to work through what I have. Luckily this goes hand in hand with #2, because if I'm consistent in the products I use, I will be dedicated to using up one at a time instead of jumping around and never quite finishing anything. This also will help me to really get to know products before I review them, and I can start making "Product Empties" videos for my YouTube!
Put More Effort into my Blog, YouTube, and Related Social Media I seem to go through periods where I am very creative and want to engage with other users on Instagram, and other times I feel uninspired and unfriendly. I can't expect to run successful social media accounts if I am not posting content consistently or interacting with other people. I have been trying over the last couple of months to "like" more photos on Instagram instead of just scrolling through, and It has helped my content so much. I gain more followers, get more likes, and always seem to attract more offers from companies to review products when I'm more engaged. Posting and expecting likes to just flow in is selfish, you need to be willing to share the love too. I have also created a Twitter account to hopefully interact with my readers more easily, and I want to revive my Tumblr and Facebook page so that I can connect with people over multiple platforms. And of course, a huge part of this is to create content I am proud of, and more of it. I want to become better at photography, and I want to take my YouTube beyond run-of-the-mill haul and unboxing videos. I want to post more consistently, with roughly one blog post per week, and 1-2 videos per month. I feel like I have started the year off on the right foot so far, with this being the 3rd post in two weeks, and I have just posted a new video to my YouTube. Of course, busy season at my job is just about to start, so I don't know how easily I will be able to keep up with posting for the rest of the winter, but I will try my hardest.

So there are some thoughts on the new year! Let me know below what your goals are for this year! I hope we can accomplish even more than we plan to. Good luck!