What's so naturally beautiful about Thursdays? Well, it's almost Friday and you can just begin to taste the weekend. So in honor of a naturally great day of the week I thought I'd share with you my favorite new natural cosmetic brand, Terra Firma Cosmetics. I am in love with their long-wearing gel eyeliner. I used to be a devout fan of Bobbi Brown's but no more! I swear I'm a total convert. How could I not be when I can now get a healthier version for nearly half the price! For a container more than double Bobbi's size, it's only $12.99 compared to Bobbi's $21! Can't beat that! I'm telling you I would have paid more.

My favorite standout product was Terra Firma's black gel eyeliner. It went on easy and lasted all day. Even through the gym and a quick-rinse shower! The color is the richest, darkest black and it never became flaky. I also tried the Cream Blush in rockin' rose! It looked a little intimidatingly pink but it gave me the perfect healthy glow! It goes on like a rouge for a very natural look.

I'm so into this brand right now. The owners actually believe it is their responsibility to provide safe and healthy products to their customers. What a concept, right? They believe that it is possible to provide effective beauty care with pure and natural ingredients. Their ongoing positive relationship with theircustomers and the trust that has been established is what makes their business a successful one. Their commitment to the ethical compact they've signed with SAFECOSMETICS to provide beauty care products free of potentially harmful ingredients is reflected in their formulations.

Check out what's in this product, couldn't be better : Ingredients: Aqua, Beeswax, Black Oxide, Ultramarine Blue Oxide, Aloe Leaf Juice, Witch Hazel, Arabic Gum, Vegetable Glycerin, Emulsifying Wax NF, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycoprotein, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Polysorbate-20, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Vitamin B5, Hyaluronic Acid, Pullulan, Fulvic Acid, Carbomer, Mannan, Potassium Sorbate, Suprapein (A proprietory blend of botanical extracts for preservation that includes: Extracts of Oregano leaf extract, Thyme extract, Cinnamon bark extract, rosemary leaf extract, Lavender Flower extract, Lemon peel extract, peppermint leaf extract, Golden Seal Root extract and Olive leaf extract.), Tonka Bean Oil, Lavender Oil, Almond Oil.

I know it's hard to switch to a brand you can't try out in Sephora or a Department store but that's what I'm here for. I can't tell you how many products I try that I'm mehhh about. But this is not one of them. Every product I've tried by them has impressed me and surpassed most mainstream brands I've used for years. 

Visit Terra Firma Cosmetics online for more information or to pick up your own fabulous gel eyeliner! Why I had never heard of this brand is a mystery!

And if you're looking for natural face paints for Halloween–look no further! No need to slather your kid in toxic chemicals! Check here for natural non toxic face paints!

*Samples were given to Smartypanties.com for this review but I sought this brand out because I heard great things from reviews online. I definitely plan on purchasing more cosmetics in the future.

Right around my time of the month I got a serious insane craving for sugar! I decided to try out a vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe from Oh She Glows! They were so absolutely glorioussssssss. Granted they're pretty packed with sugar so I wouldn't call them a health food, but when you want a cookie they're much better for you than hitting up a bakery where they use dairy and eggs. But I couldn't stop just with the cookies so I made a vegan cookie dough blizzard with banana ice cream!

I adapted this recipe as I said above from OSG.
Makes about 12-14 cookies

Ingredients:

7 tbsp Earth Balance (Coconut Oil Version is my fave or use a soy-free one)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup cane sugar (or use white)
1 flax egg: (1 tbsp ground flaxed mixed with 3 tbsp water)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder ( use this instead of baking soda, which made my didn't make the cookies rise)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup spelt flour
1/4 tsp molasses (optional-but the molasses makes the cookies chewy)
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix together the flax egg and set aside.

2. With an electric mixer or in a stand mixer, beat the Earth Balance until fluffy. Fold in the brown sugar and cane sugar. Then beat in the flax egg.

3. Beat in the rest of the ingredients and fold in the chocolate chips.

4. Place the dough on the cookie sheets. Make sure to leave ample room im between cookies since they really spread out. Bake for 10-12 minutes but watch closely. Allow to cool before eating!
 

Then to make the banana ice cream just throw in as many frozen bananas as you want to the food processor and add just a splash of non-dairy milk (my favorite is coconut milk).

The first time I made these I put the dough in the food processor and mixed it in very quickly but it diluted the cookie dough-ness too much so I recommend just putting it on top in your bowl and then mix in by hand. 

Alternatively you could also make the cookies and then crush them up on top of the banana ice cream or of course eat them yourself. 

I’m so excited to introduce two NEW products from Lavanila Laboratories: the sensual new Healthy Fragrance in Vanilla Blackberry and the super long-lasting, alcohol-free Forever Fragrance Oils.

Forever Fragrance Oils ($26): Offering scents that last and last, these new Forever Fragrance Oils deliver a proprietary blend of pure essential oils in a hydrating base of sweet almond oil that lasts up to eight hours, twice as long as traditional fragrances. Concentrated, hydrating, and pure, Lavanila Forever Fragrance Oils uniquely melt into the skin as the body warms to release rich, alluring aroma. The scents: Vanilla Coconut, Pure Vanilla and Vanilla Grapefruit.

My Review: I am in love with the Vanilla Coconut! My husband asked me why I smelled like a chocolate chip cookie when I wore it. I told him it was from my baking but I know the real answer, which is that I was wearing Lavanila Fragrance Oil. True story I swear. Of course I'm also obsessed with the fact that these are 100% healthy.

What these are formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petro-Chemicals
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

LaVanila also released healthy fragrance:

Healthy Fragrance in Vanilla Blackberry (1.7 oz $58.00, 10ml Roller Ball $19.00): Seduce the senses with this new provocative blend of ripe blackberry, juicy raspberry, velvet iris and warm Madagascar vanilla. Inspired by the allure of vine-ripened berries, this effortlessly sexy twist on vanilla creates a crisp, sparkling and deliciously daring experience.

Pick up a bottle of Lavanila Healthy Fragrances at Sephora today!

Everyone has been resting on the fact that there hasn't been enough research done on parabens to prove that they are dangerous. Well, lucky for us, now there is! So now you have no excuse to use products with parabens!!

In the September 1, 2011 edition of Carcinogenesis, researchers at the California Pacific Medical Center released their findings showing that both BPA and Methylparaben at even low concentrations found in humans have negative health consequences such as an increased breast cancer risk. 

Learn more about this study in this article about the Dangers of Parabens on Chic and Green!

For the past year I have been the subject of endless tirades from angry meat eating friends telling me that I won't be as healthy if I cut meat and dairy out of my diet. Well to all of you I'd just like to say that although I have sat idly by and accepted that I will never change your minds (even though I know I'm right) here is proof in the Huffington Post explaining why you don't need animal protein to stay strong, why you don't need milk to have healthy bones and why you can get your omega 3's without eating fish!

I will be just as strong and healthy as my other vegan friends the Elephant and the Gorilla–and meat free! Read 'em and weep all you carnivores out there!

Check out this Vegan Myths Busted Article on the Huffington Post!

Kiss bad breath goodbye! Achieving a healthy smile doesn’t have to come with a high price, thanks to Kiss My Face’s oral care value packs! For a beautiful smile, customers can buy two 3.4 oz. tubes of toothpaste for $8.99 (usually $5.99/tube) or buy two 16 fl. oz. bottles of mouthwash for the price of one at $8.99 for two!

I love this brand because the toothpaste is free of sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens and artificial flavors and colors.  Instead the brand uses xylitol, aloe vera, olive leaf extract, peppermint oil and other healthy ingredients. They even use my fave, tea tree oil to act as an antiseptic.

 The toothpaste tastes surprisingly normal. I was a little worried it would be funky without all the usual ingredients but it was great! And the mouthwash was great because it didn't burn like the usual listerine horror. Instead I was left with fresh breath and no burning sensation!

The Kiss My Face Toothpaste and Breath Blast Mouthwash Value packs are available now on KissMyFace.com