I am bloody obsessed with Lush products. Not only did their skincare products clear up acne that I had been fighting for about 15 years, but their bath bombs, face masks and lotions are the nicest, most lovely cosmetic products I've ever used. True story.
Because Lush's skincare products have made my skin so amazing, I do not like the idea of putting make-up filled with crappy chemicals all over my face. MAC or not, it kind of defeats the purpose, right? It's like only eating organic, but then living in a crack den.
I am no vegan or vegetarian and I doubt that I could ever be described as a "Green Warrior" - but I just don't like the idea of rubbing a bunch of crap all over my face. Therefore, I was pleased to bits when Lush launched their new Emotional Brilliance line of make-up.
Psychological Lipstick
Emotional Brilliance is a line of lip colours, eyeliners and cream eyeshadows that match your psychological needs to what colour cosmetics you should be wearing. It may sound a little deep, but think about it...
I find red lipstick is a powerful thing. My jet black eyeliner makes me feel fierce - it just does. And as Lush Co-Founder and Inventor of Emotional Brilliance Rowena Bird says, sometimes you need different colours for different moods:
“I love lipstick, but why wasn’t one great colour ever enough, why was I drawn to a particular one on different days or even sometimes feel the need to change colour part way through a day? After chatting with like minded lipstick junkies, it struck us that it wasn’t about what clothes we were wearing but more about how we were feeling.”
Putting on a lipstick called Ambition or an eyeliner called Independent feels powerful. Just seeing the little bottles on your bathroom shelf with words like Drive, Focus or Wise feels uplifting - much nicer than the usual cosmetic or nail varnish colours like "pussygalore" or "princess pony booboo".
What I also love about the range are the colours, as they're not dependent on fashion trends or what's on the catwalk. Yellow eyeliner, pale pink lipstick, or blue eyeshadow? If you fancy it, why the hell not?
Does It Work?
My one concern with handmade or natural make-up products has always been that I felt they didn't work. How could something made from oils and plants really give me Amy Winehouse eyeliner and Lady Gaga lips? Surely I needed something man-made and chemical based to get the look I wanted?
Answer: No.
I have tried out a variety of Lush's Emotional Brilliance products, as well as their colour supplements, skin tints and powder, and tried to see if they worked as well as the usual products I used. Could I make the switch? Did they really offer enough products for me to replace everything in my routine?
Answer: Yes.
My everyday make-up routine used to consist of liquid foundation, powder, concealer, a different under-eye concealer, gel eyeliner, mascara, blush, and lipstick. However, I was able to find exact or very similar products in Lush's Emotional Brilliance range.
In the photo above (which is completely untouched - no filters or editing) is a testament not only to Lush's skincare range (I don't have any huge spots like I used to!) but how I can recreate my normal make-up routine using Lush. The ONLY product on my face that isn't Lush is on my eyebrows, as they don't have an eyebrow pencil yet. I'm not even wearing blush, as I still need to purchase Charisma.
Foundation: Jackie Oates - Lush's versions of foundation are called "colour supplements" and can be mixed with moisturizer or just put straight on your face, which is what I do. Speak to the people at Lush and they'll help you find the right colour! These are brilliant, and you can wear as much as little as you like for coverage. Because my skin has been so great using their skincare products, I don't really need concealer anymore. However, if I do get a spot, I just use more Jackie Oates where the spot is.
Powder: Emotional Brilliance - this translucent, pink powder is AMAZING. It not only sets your colour supplement, but it gives fabulous coverage, too. I find it helps keep my skin from getting super shiny as the day goes on. It reminders me of bareMinerals' powders. In the photo above I'm wearing Emotional Brilliance on top of Jackie Oates.
Eyeliner: Independent - I reviewed this last week in my eyeliner tutorial.
Mascara: Eyes Right - this takes a while to apply as the brush is quite short, but make sure to use an eyelash curler. This will make your lashes look darker and longer, but it doesn't do much in the way of volume, but that's why you curl!
Highlighter: Feeling Younger - I use this on my cheeks, under my eyes as a concealer, as well as just under my eyebrows. It's comparable to Benefit's High Beam but much cheaper, and will last much longer. I'm obsessed with this, it gives you such a healthy glow that reflects light, rather than making you look like a dewy clown.
Lipstick: In this photo I'm wearing Decisive, but I also love Ambition. The colours are really intense, but as they're liquid based, they don't absorb very quickly. I'd advise "blotting" your lips with a tissue after application to help get rid of any excess product - however, once it's on, the colour almost stains your lips so even when you eat, it doesn't full go away. (It can get a bit messy, however.)
And there you have it! Iyou have any questions about how I've found wearing Emotional Brilliance, just send me a tweet @CateSevilla!
For more information on Emotional Brilliance, simply check out Lush's website!