For The Love Of Animals Boutique

Today's review is going to be a little "out of the box" for my blog and my very first clothing and apparel review. I know it's not my typical review but I just had to share!

For The Love Of Animals Apparel has taken over my closet and my collection will most likely be even bigger by the time this post goes up. The basis of FTLA Apparel (For the Love of Animals Apparel) is about high quality, Eco friendly, custom hand screen printed line of clothing for Animal Lovers, Advocates, Rescuers, pets AND their Humans!!! 

IT'S PAWSOME!!!! 
If you like super comfy, high quality clothing AND animals...YOU WILL LOVE FTLA APPAREL! 

As the line began to grow I decided to get in on the action and see about getting a "Gluten Free" custom design by Kim Panzarella and since we are family she came up with the perfect design that she added to her growing list of custom apparel.

As you know my sensitive skin even reacts to certain materials so if it is uncomfortable, itchy and made from some cheap material it's not going on my body. Since most of our weather here in New England is what I consider cold (anything below 70 degrees is cold to me). I am always cold and in need of something soft and comfortable to keep me warm. In our very short summer season I need something that is light, breathable and comfortable enough to chase three kids around in. FTLA Apparel meets all my needs with the added benefit of a custom design that supports animals and the added bonus of supporting other awarenesses like Celiac disease, Lupus, etc.... . I highly suggest checking out the website before it all ends up in my closet.

Red Apple Lipstick

When I learned I had Celiac disease and realized that not only was my diet going to have to completly change but my beauty products and pretty much anything I touched would have to be gluten free. I was so confused about labels and what was safe and what wasn't especially when it came to makeup, skincare and hair care. Go take a look at the labels on your products and tell me if you have any clue what is in them and what isn't. One of the first few companies I was lucky enough to come across was Red Apple Lipstick. As soon as a clicked on the website the first thing that caught my eye was that the products were gluten free, paraben free, cruelty free, allergen free, soy free and vegan. I have very sensitive skin as you know but my lips and eyes are probably the most sensitive. The first thing I did was contact the company headed by Jay Harper and believe it or not the person that responded to me was Jay Harper. How often does the head of the company email you back? In my experience it almost never happens. The thing that amazed me the most was how passionate he was about RAL products and the direction he wanted the company to go in and grow. The very first product I tried a few years back was their   Raylle Balm. A balm that not only hydrates your lips but heals them as well and as an added bonus can be used on your cuticles, dry patches of skin and even under your eyes to help hydrate and heal. It is just a great product that everyone should have because it is multi purpose and has high quality ingredients that will not irritate people with the most sensitive of skin. I also ordered RAL 's Rubby Slippers, Secrets, Red, Petal  Pusher lip sticks and a gloss in Bridesmaid. Since I already did a review on those already I will just let you know that Red is the perfect red that looks great on everyone and makes your teeth look whiter. Ruby Slippers and Secrets are perfect everyday colors that I always grab for and compare other lipsticks to. Petal Pusher  is a gorgeous bright pink that reminds me of the perfect summer lip and if you top it of with the Bridesmaid you have the perfect pink lip with added shine and sparkle.

The company has expanded and now has eyeshadows, lip pencils, eye liner and even an exfoliating lip product that according to the website is packaged like a lipstick but is used to exfoliate the dead skin off those chapped lips leaving you smooth soft lips perfect for applying any lipstick, gloss or Maybe even some Raylle Balm before bed so you wake up with beautiful hydrated lips. I have been wanting to try this product since a subscriber emailed me about how much she loved it but keep forgetting to order it but it will be my next purchase.

The products I did order are new to the line and I don't know how they did it but these high definition glosses and new lipsticks are even more amazing. RAL states that the glosses are high definition and that they are so pigmented that a little goes a long way. So if you want a bold lip you give it a swipe and your good to go and if you want just a wash of color then you can sheer it out by using
less product. As for the lipsticks I must say I completly disagree with RAL's advertising because they are not labeled high def but they are so creamy and pigmented that they  should be considered high def and long wearing.

Let's start off with RAL lipstick in Mix and Mingle. It is a beautiful fuschia that is so pigmented you can wear it as a really bold look or just or put a tiny bit on the center of your lips to give you a wash of pink. It almost has a purple undertone to it (I think) so I love it and purple/Radiant Orchid is this years color. 

Next up we have Firefly an orange color with a hint of sparkle. I know your thinking who wears orange lipstick? Well look in any beauty magazines or websites and you will see that this summer orange is going to be one of the top lip colors for summer.

On to RAL's High definition glosses. Let's start with the beautiful Bashful a perfect pink that is your lips but better. I don't want to say its a nude because on me it isn't a pale pink nude but it's a deeper almost rose nude rather than a pink nude. A perfect everyday looks good on everyone color that is highly pigmented and last a long time (I swatched both glosses on my hand and they were there all day even though I wash my hands a million times a day).

 Finally my favorite a high def gloss called Pink Lady, a perfect hot pink that is bold and easy to build the perfect makeup look around with the main focus being your lips and if the hot pink color is to much for you to handle you can use a tiny amount for a wash of pink rather then a bold shiny hot pink that makes your lips pop.

I can say without a doubt that every Red Apple Lipstick product I have tried  I love. They are high quality products that beat high end makeup brands because the formulas are creamy and not sticky and they last a really long time. Plus they are made without harmful ingredients that you see in products at your local drugstore,  sephora, Ulta or MAC stores. The customer service you get from RAL is top  knotch and they are so passionate about getting high quality products  out there and making them with only the best ingredients that are safe. I know one day this company will be on QVC or available in stores all over the United States. Once you try one RAL product your hooked and will want to try them all.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder

We all know that when it comes to flawless looking skin that you see in pictures that a lot of it has to do with lighting (and maybe photoshop). Hourglass has a line of powders that offer you that perfect lighting for you specific skin needs.                                      WHAT IT IS:
A universal finishing powder that features state-of-the-art technology to recreate the most exquisitely flattering types of light. 

WHAT IT DOES:
Create your perfect light. Ambient Lighting Powder is a groundbreaking collection of finishing powders that capture, diffuse, and soften the way light reflects on your skin. Unlike traditional powders, which merely cloak imperfections, Ambient Lighting Powder utilizes photoluminescent technology to filter out harsh light and refine the appearance of the complexion. The powders deliver a multidimensional luminescence to every skintone, making it appear softer, younger, and lit-from-within. The finishing powders enhance skin in any type of light, including flash photography. With six universal shades available, you can create your desired effect—not unlike having a personal lighting technician. Ambient is free of talc, gluten, fragrance, and nanoparticles. It is available in six universally flattering shades from least pearl to most pearl.

ETHEREAL LIGHT: A sheer, cool tone that eliminates shine and mimics a moonlit glow—even in broad daylight.
DIFFUSED LIGHT: A soft, warm, pale yellow that reduces redness, eliminates shine, and gives skin clarity. 
DIM LIGHT: A neutral soft beige that provides a perfect balance of warm and cool tones to blur imperfections. 
MOOD LIGHT: A soft, sheer lavender pink that mimics the softest, most forgiving light and brightens the complexion. 
LUMINOUS LIGHT: A champagne pearl that creates a soft, incandescent candlelit glow—day or night. 
RADIANT LIGHT: A sun-kissed golden beige that enhances the overall complexion with believable, subtle warmth. 
 The Hourglass powders are gluten and paraben free.

  I myself own Diffused Light because when I went to Sephora to look at all the powders Diffused Light seemed to match my skin perfectly and I can use it all over my face to cover redness and almost blur out pores and imperfections in my skin. Other people use it only as highlight but my skin is fair and since there is no sparkle I can use it as a face powder. I apply it by dusting it over my face to set my makeup. It is almost like using a filter on a photograph to give it that flawless look. This is my everyday go to powder. I have had it for about six months and still haven't even made a dent in the compact because you only need a small amount of product to get the job done. I am very interested in trying the other Ambient Lighting Powders out to see if maybe one would be a good higlight or the perfect go to summer powder when my skin is tan and I am looking for more of a glowy powder.

Hourglass also just came out with Ambient Lighting Blushes that are supposed to work with the powders to give you the perfect match up of blush and powder without all the guesswork of finding your perfect shade. I can't wait to give them a try and see if they are as great as the powder.  

My Lupus Story

As many of you know from my other blogs I was diagnosed with a Systemic Lupus back in December. I was dealing with what I was told was pain from a kidney infection that just didn't seen to go away no matter what medicine they out me on. At one point I was heading to the hospital everyday for IV meds. So to make a long story short my blood test came back positive and I started seeing  a Nephrologist (speacializes in Kidney disease) and got bombarded with more information then my brain is capable of processing. I was not surprised by the fact that I was diagnosed with another autoimmune disease becauses the chances are if you have one then you are more likely to have two. I always thought Lupus only caused problems with your joints and had no clue about all the other symptoms like fatigue, kidney problems, swelling, rash, and numbness in your hands and feet just to name a few.

   I just started my journey and have not exactly figured out which path I will take. Most likely I will wait until June when my kids are out of school and I am off for the summer to start my first cycle of immune suppressants and steroids but until then I am looking into more of a "Chinese Medicine" approach so that I can continue to work and keep things at home on a normal schedule that doesn't involve me taking a medicine that pretty much poisons my body and shuts my immune system down (as you can tell I am not thrilled with my options). I do my best to not let my children see me sick because I don't want them to ever worry about my health. So I plan on being as healthy as possible and push through the times when I feel like staying in bed and feeling bad for myself because my body doesn't want to cooperate with me.

     I will of course continue to review beauty products and makeup because I Love doing it. It makes me feel like I am helping other people out there who are dealing with similar problems. Everybody deserves to feel beautiful inside and out no matter what skin issues, allergies, diseases, etc.. they are faced with on a daily basis.

     I hope this answers your questions but feel free to message or email me if you have any other questions.

xoxoxo Diana

Whitening lightning

If you watch YouTube or ready beauty blogs on a regular basis then you have most likely heard our read about Whitening Lightning. The products that's I am going to review are there brow bar to go, lipglosses (Fiji and pink frosting), and the Super Booster whitening pen. All their products are gluten free and cruelty free.

I am going to start with the brow bar to go. This products as you may have guessed is used to fill in, lighten or darken your brows as well as using the wax to keep your brows looking polished and set. You are given a clear wax, a light powder and dark powder as well as an small brush. You can use both powders to create the perfect shade for your eyebrows. I was never into doing anything to my eyebrows except plucking them. I only realized what a difference your brows can make by doing the one thing I think we all do at least once, over plucking. You start off fine but as you look into your magnified mirror you feel like you should just take a little more, a little on that side, then poof you have almost no eyebrows. That was the look a few years back but now it's all about the fuller brow. Which would have been great if we didn't pluck them off for years and now we don't have much to work with and the hairs we do have refuse to lay in the same direction. That's when the brow bar to go comes in. First you want to grab a spooly and get all the hairs going in the same direction. Next add some wax and work it into the brow with a spooly so the hair stays flat. If you have perfect brows and that's all you need then your good to go but if you have areas that need to be filled in or you want to make your brows look fuller or change the shade or shape then you grab the brush and start filling in your brows at the fullest front section, working your way back making small hair like strokes. It is a good idea to do a little at a time and stop and look to see what progress you have made otherwise you might end up looking like you used a sharpy (not a good look on anyone). Once you like the look you can add a little more wax and comb through with a spooly to make sure everything is blended and looks natural. The two powder shades you are given in this palette are also perfect for using in your crease to blend out your eyeshadow because they are both matte. I know all this sounds like a lot but it literally takes 2 minutes and really can pull a look together and make it seem more polished. Once you start filling in your brows you will see what a difference it makes and you will find yourself reaching for this product everyday. I prefer this method to fill in my brows rather then using a eyebrow pencil because it comes out natural and softer then when you use a pencil and you are less likely to look like you used the sharpy and decided to give yourself a "Disney Villain" makeover.

When it comes to lipglosses I am not ashamed to say that I have a bit of a hoarding problem. I have way to many and I am sure by the time I post this I will have more. It's a problem. I am aware but I like it. Okay back to the Color your Smile lipglosses in Fiji and Pink Frosting. First off the packaging is pretty cool because when you unscrew the wand it lights up and there is even a mirror on the lipgloss for you to look in if you are out and need a touch up. You can even do a touch up in the dark if you need to! The formula of these glosses are great they are not to sticky or overly scented and they really feel nice on your lips. Fiji is a Barbie pink color and Pink Frosting is a nice natural pink with sparkle. These glosses are shiny and last longer then most but you will need to touch up after you eat or drink. The colors are beautiful and I can see them working for all skin tones.

Last up we have the Super Booster Whitening Pen. This is the product I have read about everywhere and was excited to try because it has great reviews. All you do is dry your teeth off and twist the pen until a clear gel comes out the end and you put a thin layer over your teeth, smile big for 60 seconds while it dries and go to bed (for best results). I have read review after review of people seeing a huge change after 1 or 2 uses but on the box it says to do it everyday for 14 days for best results. After my first week I really didn't see that much of a change so I emailed the company to make sure I was doing everything correctly and they emailed me back immediately with suggestions and all the steps I had been following already. Now that my 14 days are up I am glad to say that I do see a difference and my teeth are a few shades lighter. I think in my mind after reading all the reviews I thought I was going to get the whitening effect you get when you have your teeth whitened at the Dentist. A result a lot of other people seem to get but for me it was only a few shades which is still great. Especially because my teeth are super sensitive and the one time I tried to have my teeth whitened  at the Dentist I had to stop not even half way into the process because I was in so much pain (never again). This product was easy to use and they have an amazing customer service team who answer all your questions and immidiatley get back to you. Another great thing about Whitening Lightning is they are always doing sales or bundle deals and you can always find codes online to get huge savings on any of their products

Simply Smooth Magic Potion Shampoo

Shampoo is one of the hardest things for me to find that is gluten free and that doesn't contain anything that will not only leave my scalp feeling like it has been set on fire and not make me break out. My scalp is just as sensitive as the skin on my face and I truly believe that topical products we use on our skin and hair are absorbed and can cause damage.  So when I find a shampoo I like the first thing I want to do is blog about it, but because I like to really test the products I review I wait until I am sure about a product before I recommend it.

Simply Smooth Magic Potion Shampoo is hydrating and reparative. Perfect for those of us who highlight, color our hair or just have dry damaged hair. When I ran out of this shampoo and didn't have time to stop at the salon to pick it up I just grabbed another gluten free, parben and sulfate free shampoo that I have used in the past and thought it wasn't bad but it wasn't great either but I was in a pinch so I decided to use it. BAD IDEA! My scalp became dry and flaky but also oily at the root (I didn't even know that could happen). I try to go every other day with shampooing my hair but my hair looked so greasy and I had flakes from my scalp being so dry that I had to wash my hair everyday otherwise I would have been a hot mess. Even my neck shoulders and the sides of my face were breaking out. Finally I managed to get to the salon but I honestly thought that there was no way shampoo was going to be able to fix my hair drama and that maybe my hair was having a midlife crisis maybe my diet or medication was causing the problem. Thank Goodness I was wrong! All I had to do was wash my hair once using Simply Smooth Magic Potion and my hair was back to feeling and looking healthy. The shampoo is really light weight but it leaves you with hair that feels and looks clean unlike other shampoos that can leave your hair feeling heavy and like you need to maybe wash your hair twice to get that clean feeling. My skin immidiatley got better and the break outs were completely gone after a week. I am finally back to washing my hair every other day sometimes even more if I put my hair up in a messy bun or any style that requires my hair to be pulled back. We all know the texture of dirty hair makes it much easier to pull back and keep in place.

So if you are looking for a gentle shampoo that hydrates  and brings damaged hair back to life without weighing it down I would highly recommend this shampoo. Especially if you have sensitive skin or allergies.