Live Bravely w/#terimiyahirabeauty

When I posted about last month's Teri Miyahira Beauty Box, I mentioned that Teri must have read my mind. Well, this month, she did it again. This time, she included another one of those fun shadow quads (see the original quad from the Sprint to Success box), but in the earthy shades I tend to gravitate toward (especially this time of year). She also surprised me with a bold lipstick and a flirty finishing touch.

Let's start with the Teri Miyahira 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free "Carefree" Eyeshadow Palette. I already knew I adored it's design with it's hidden brush compartment. However, it's not exactly the brush I would select for applying these shadows to my eyes. Thank goodness I received more precise shadow brushes in last month's box.

I've also had success applying these shadows with my fingers in a pinch, which is how I opted to swatch them for you. These eyeshadows are great for creating a contoured look that can go from natural to more daring, depending on the application (you can check out Teri's YouTube channel for application tutorials). As you can see, there's a soft, shimmery beige highlighter, a matte taupe for defining the lash line and/or crease, a pinky nude base shade and a terracotta that's nice for adding a more vibrant pop of color.

The eyeshadows go perfectly with the lipstick. Honestly, I was hoping there would be a lipstick in this month's box, and Teri delivered.

The Teri Miyahira 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free "Brave" Satin Lipstick is a bold color that you don't need to fear, as mentioned on the enclosed information card. This month's box encourages you to "Live Bravely" and rock that darker, deeper lip color.

"Brave" may be darker than the pinks, nudes and corals that most of us sported all summer, but now that it's fall, this shade seems like a natural choice. Those of you who tend to be intimidated by bright red lipsticks will be happy to know that this lip color is a more wearable brick red. It's also very buildable, allowing you to control the amount of color. This lipstick has a smooth, moisturizing texture and good staying power.

This month's box completes your "Live Bravely" look with these "Imagination #04" Vegan Faux Mink False Eyelashes. I'm actually anxious to take these for a test drive, but since I don't regularly wear false lashes, I don't happen to have any eyelash glue on hand (the glue was not included with these). I guess I need to buy some, asap.

Interested in getting Teri Miyahira Beauty delivered to your doorstep? You can sign up for the November wait list here. I'm so proud of how successful her boxes have been and still continue to be.

Did you get this month's box? Which item was your favorite? What do you hope to see in the future? You can find me on Twitter at @Rawdorable and/or Instagram (also @Rawdorable).

* Although Teri Miyahira sent me this box for review, all opinions are my own :)

Feel good in your skin w/Province Apothecary

As you know from my previous Pearlesque Box posts (here's last month's box, as well as the first one I received), this subscription box likes to deliver natural beauty from various locations. The November 2016 box takes you to Toronto, Canada, where you'll find Province Apothecary.

According to the information card in the box, Province Apothecary's founder Julie Clark (pictured above with those familiar blue bottles; this photo is from her website) struggled with allergies and eczema all her life, so she began crafting natural, organic beauty products out of her kitchen. She used her time off from being a costume designer and stylist to experiment with oils, waxes and herbs. She also studied Aromatherapy, Holistic Health and Esthetics in Toronto, where she formed the foundation of her skincare expertise, experimenting with raw materials and natural ingredients. "For Julie, natural beauty goes beyond simply organic and wild-crafted ingredients; natural beauty means a pledge to helping clients feel good in their own skin."

Province Apothecary has long outgrown its kitchen and now can be found on your doorstep in the latest Pearlesque Box, which is filled with five natural, certified organic skincare products to help you feel beautiful in your skin. This cleanser/makeup remover, clay mask, exfoliator, toner and face serum are packed with "high quality, certified organic, biodynamic and wildcrafted ingredients sourced from Canadian provinces. Julie expertly formulates, blends, and packages all products by hand in small batches, ensuring the highest quality skincare for you."

The full-size Moisturizing Cleanser + Make-up Remover with Avocado & Raspberry is meant for all skin types. This combination of sunflower seed oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, evening primrose oil, raspberry seed oil, GMO-free vitamin E and rosemary leaf extract gently removes makeup and excess oil, while hydrating and keeping your skin in balance. It also contains therapeutic essential oils of bergamot, lavender and frankincense, which have a nice calming effect. "Bergamot oil clears congestion. Frankincense tones the skin. Lavender heals blemishes and works as a restorative."

The oils in this particular oil cleanser smell really fresh and lovely. They also do an excellent job of cleansing my skin and removing my makeup. It leaves my skin so soft.

If you are looking for a deeper clean, you're in luck. This box also contains a very generous travel-size Detoxifying + Clarifying Clay Mask with Glacial & Bentonite Clay, which can be used 1-3 times per week to help draw out impurities from the skin, clear pores and calm your complexion. "The unique natural properties of bentonite clay act as a magnet, drawing out impurities from the skin to clear pores + calm the complexion. Glacial clay detoxifies and tightens the skin, reducing the signs of aging. Wild-crafted algae nourishes the skin, regenerates cell growth, and stimulates collagen production. Maple syrup mineralizes the skin and neutralizes free radicals, giving your skin a healthy glow and smooth tone," as stated on the Province Apothecary website.

As you can see, this mask comes in a green powder that can be mixed with honey or water. I've tried both methods. Personally, I would recommend honey or something else that's sweet to help cut the strong fishy smell this product has when wet, most likely due to the algae and marine clay. Although I'm not fond of this scent (at least I know there aren't any added fragrances; this is just the true nature of the ingredients), I will say that it is worth using. When mixed with just water, this mask dries tight on my skin, but once washed away, the results are soft, smooth (it really tackles those fine lines) and clear. When mixed with honey, it never fully dries, adding moisture and leaving you with a gorgeous glow.

Speaking of adding moisture, this travel-size Regenerating + Stimulating Exfoliator with Lavender & Green Tea combines exfoliating and hydration in one simple product. It only contains oat flour, lentil flour, flax seed, lavender, violets and green tea leaf in an exfoliating powder that can be combined with other natural ingredients/products, depending on what works best for your skin and the season you 're in at the moment. "Oatmeal calms, softens and nourishes. Green tea stimulates and rejuvenates, giving you a healthy glow. Lavender calms irritation and heals blemishes."

This product smells quite floral in its powder form, but when wet, it reminds me more of baby cereal in both texture and scent. Although recommended to mix with a liquid first, I prefer to apply it dry to my damp face, rubbing it gently in circular motions for a few minutes. While in contact with my damp skin, this exfoliator softens and absorbs the water on my face. Then, in its wet form, it moisturizes. I call that a "win-win."

When all that cleansing, detoxing and exfoliating is done, it's nice to give my skin a spritz of toner, like the full-size Invigorating + Balancing Toner with Rose & Geranium. "Fragrant organic rose water is naturally soothing and cooling to the skin, while geranium essential oil calms and naturally reduces the appearance of scars," according to the product description.

This toner is light and fresh, and smells heavenly. It also preps my skin for the next step (I have no idea if it really works on scars).

Last, but not least, is the travel-size Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum with Neroli & Frankincense. You only need a little bit of this golden oil to make your skin glow. "It replenishes your skin’s health while hydrating and stimulating skin on a cellular level. High in antioxidants, neroli and frankincense reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve skin tone. Jojoba balances skin’s sebum production, controlling shine and congestion. German chamomile and rose soothe blemishes, redness, and reduce the appearance of scars."

A few tabs of this moisturizing oil goes a long way to add an extra dose of hydration (all the other products are quite hydrating, as well) without causing my skin to break out. It's also magical when it comes to reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

If purchased separately, the total for all five Province Apothecary products in this box is $146. You can get them by subscribing to Pearlesque Box for $39.95 per month (shipping to the U.S. is free). Use the code: RAW15 to get 15% off your first box.

Do you subscribe to Pearlesque Box? Do you use Province Apothecary? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter at @Rawdorable and/or Instagram (also @Rawdorable).

* Pearlesque Box sent me these Province Apothecary products
for review. All opinions are my own :)

Commit & Persist w/#terimiyahirabeauty

Teri Miyahira, you read my mind. I don't know how she knew it, but she did. I've been wanting some new makeup brushes (she already teased me with a new No. 02 Medium Multi Brush that I posted on Instagram last week; it's currently available for purchase on her site), as well as a fun purple eye color to add to my makeup collection. You can see in the photo above that my wish was granted in the latest Teri Miyahira Beauty Box (you can find out what was in the previous boxes here, here and here).

Just look at these lovely cruelty-free, vegan makeup brushes with their soft and fluffy Taklon bristles, rose gold aluminum ferrules and white lacquer wooden handles. This 4-piece set includes the No. 07 Angled Brush (for bronzer, blush and highlighter application), No. 09 Eye Pencil Brush (to define the crease, smudge eyeliner and/or apply eyeshadow to the lower lash line), No. 10 Medium Eye Blending Brush (an all-in-one eye lid/crease application and blending tool) and No. 15 Smoky Eyeliner Brush (to smoke out the lower lash line with eyeshadow or apply gel eyeliner to the top lashes); all the tools you need to have fun with the other two items in the box.

Also in the September 2016 Teri Miyahira Beauty Box is this 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free Pressed Powder Blush in Aspire, which comes in this slim and sleek compact that fits in your pocket. It applies beautifully with the No. 07 Angled Brush (don't you love how everything in these boxes are meant to work together?).

It's the perfect pink for fall. It brightens up my face, which is starting to lose its summer glow, and it looks fabulous with that purple eyeshadow I mentioned earlier.

The 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free Pressed Eyeshadow really is a dream, hence the name Dream, and works well with the other three brushes. Personally, I love to apply it on my lash line, using the No. 15 Smoky Eyeliner Brush, for a subtle look that still makes my blue eyes pop.

This is the exact deep, vibrant shade of purple that my eyes have been dreaming about wearing. It's has a slight shimmer that makes my eyes sparkle. It's also buildable, giving you the option to either apply it softly or create a bold look.

Here's a swatch of Dream, applied with the No. 15 Smoky Eyeliner Brush, alongside a No. 07 Angled Brush stroke of Aspire. It's like they were made for each other.

I snapped a quick pic of me wearing Dream on my lash line, as eyeliner. No surprise, I'm also wearing the Aspire blush. It's so pretty.

Did you get this Teri Miyahira Beauty Box? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter at @Rawdorable and/or Instagram (also @Rawdorable).

* Although Teri Miyahira sent me this beauty box, all opinions are my own :)