Live Botanical Fresh Complexion Clarifying Elixir: Review

Live Botanical Fresh Complexion Clarifying Elixir Mini

Live Botanical is a brand that is pretty new to me and popped up as I was looking into clean/green/natural skincare brands to try. Two main things struck me about the brand, firstly that it was fairly priced without being crazy expensive and secondly that they grow many of the herbs and plants used in their products themselves or try to source them regionally if possible. 

I love the beautiful card that came with my order!

The majority of their products come in glass containers to cut down on plastic and the boxes are paper without plastic wrapping. The only plastic I could find was in the pump tops which are difficult if not impossible to make without plastic. Another excellent aspect of the company is that they have trial/mini sizes of many of their products (I purchased this Fresh Complexion Clarifying Elixir in the trial size), which are generously sized to really give you a feel for the product, but aren’t full sized so you can tell whether you like the product for your skin before committing fully.

Run by a lovely woman Carolyn McRory (who was very helpful and patient when I reached out with a couple product ingredient questions), she has background education in herbalism and makes the products herself too! She also grows many of the ingredients for the products right there in Portland Oregon and makes the products in small batches. They often use fresh herbs instead of dried if possible, and really focus on the quality of the ingredients- such as using the herbs at peak freshness and choosing unrefined oils for full benefits. All the ingredients are biodegradable and cruelty-free. The only animal-based ingredients are some from local bees. 

 

Close-up of the lovely artwork on the label

They also use dark glass bottles to help conserve the ingredients longer. Not only does this make the products last longer it gives the whole brand an awesome specialty apothecary vibe. I love their line art on the boxes and the labels- so simple and pretty! 

Live Botanical really focuses on being environmentally conscious and they give back to Indigenous People and Environmental Stewardship groups, which is awesome. All in all, I feel that Live Botanical is a great little gem of a company. I feel they really live up to the slogan I found on their website: Beautiful. Fresh. Responsible. Simple.

 

Full-size bottle of the Clarifying Elixir (image from the Live Botanical website)

The first things I tried from the company were their organic bamboo/organic hemp face cloth (upcoming review), their Illuminating Exfoliating Serum (I’m still testing this one so it will also be in an upcoming review) and the star of this post, their Fresh Complexion Clarifying Elixir.

I’m going to start this by being completely honest in that I rarely use facial mists. I find them to mostly be disappointing and/or useless. I purchased the Fresh Complexion Clarifying Elixir on a whim with the hopes it would maybe help add moisture to my skin right before I put a mask on, thus trapping the liquid in. So, this product had those pre-conceived notions to overcome.

Trial-size of the Clarifying Elixir (Image from Live Botanical website)

I was really pleasantly surprised by the Fresh Complexion Clarifying Elixir. It smells firstly of spearmint then a touch of ginger and sweet herbs. The scent isn’t too strong, and it dissipates quickly after spraying. I’m not a huge fan of spearmint but I enjoy this. Important to note is that there is no added fragrance to this- all of the scent comes from the ingredients which all have a purpose for your skin. 

What I liked the most about this mist is that it’s slightly mattifying on the skin. This is wonderful for late afternoon and I’ve begun to get oily or if it’s warm, a little sweaty. I love spraying this on and it is very refreshing, and it takes the oily/sticky feeling on the skin down significantly. Now the oiliness doesn’t disappear, but the feeling of oiliness on the skin reduces. The mist itself is fine too which helps a lot as it feels more soothing somehow.

On the skin this is not tacky (slightly matte) to the touch and sinks in quickly. It doesn’t stain clothes and if accidently breathed in closely after spraying (as I have done- try not to do this) it is only sweetly herbal in taste. Make sure you close your eyes before you spray too!

The only thing I’m not sure about would be the clarifying aspect of this. Mainly this is due to the fact that my skin is very rarely clear from acne and congestion. I really like that this product has clarifying ingredients in it though as my skin can use all the help it can get.

The ingredients in this are wonderful, and for the Fresh Complexion Clarifying Elixir 92% regionally sourced! I recommend reading the product pages on Live Botanical to get more of an understanding for what certain ingredients are for and why they are included in the formula of the products. Carolyn explains them all really clearly. Here’s the full ingredients list:

aloe barbadensis juice*^, mentha spicata (spearmint) hydrosol*^, zingiber officinale (ginger) hydrosol*^, distilled water (and) palm-free vegetable glycerin* (and) spiraea ulmaria (meadowsweet) extract*^ (and) glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract*^ (and) arctium lappa (burdock) root extract*^, populus tremuloides (aspen) extract* and lactobacillus ferment 

*organic   |   ^regionally sourced

I honestly didn’t think this would be as lovely as it has turned out to be. I am loving it for the current sporadic warm weather and look forward to using it even more during the hot summer to come. This is great when you want to take the icky feeling away from the skin but don’t want to disturb the underlying skincare, sunscreen and/or makeup yet as it isn’t the end of the day. I also like to add it into my routine in the morning right after I wash my face as it helps my serum glide on my skin a little more easily. It’s also lovely smelling so it adds a bit of pizazz to my routine. One thing to remember is that this should be shaken first before use. 

You can find Live Botanical through their website (check for coupon codes they often have them, plus they have a flat rate $15 USD shipping rate for Canadians), Integrity Botanicals, and if you’re in Canada, The Green Jungle Beauty Shop. The Fresh Complexion Clarifying Elixir retails for $38 USD or $52 CND for their full 100 ml size and $14 USD (not available on the Canadian retailer) for the 15 ml trial/mini size. This product has a 6-month freshness guarantee and the best before date is labelled on the paper box that it comes in (which I appreciate, I can never remember when I purchased things).

Sprite Rating: 8.5/10

I really like this addition to my routine, and I am highly tempted to get the larger size of this for the coming summer! I will be purchasing it again when I can swing it. I’m looking to try some of their other products too.

Viva Organics Amaze Exfoliating Gel Review

Viva Organics Amaze Exfoliating Gel, Image from TheGreenKiss.ca

Viva Organics isn't a brand that I've heard too much about, but I was browsing through some clean beauty websites and saw this. Someone left a rave review about this mask/treatment and I eventually decided to take a chance and order it. I am SO glad that I did.

Viva Organics is a natural/clean/green brand. The Amaze Gel is Paraben, Gluten, GMO, artificial fragrance and colourant free. It's also hypoallergenic, formulated for sensitive skin, vegan and cruelty-free.

The Amaze Exfoliating Gel is supposed to do exactly what it says on the jar- exfoliate your face. They state "This exfoliating gel treats blackheads, rosacea, acne, and blocked pores while also minimizing visible age spots, scarring, and fine lines. With its unique combination of ginseng and aloe vera, the Amaze Exfoliating Gel heals, calms, and repairs damaged skin. "

Awesome bamboo lid and logo design.

 But what makes this different than any other product I've tried before?

Frankly this gel is unlike anything else I've experienced.

The consistency of the Amaze Exfoliating Gel.

Firstly this isn't a mask and it's not a leave on product either. This gel is a quick treatment that literally takes 10 minutes tops- and that includes washing and drying your face off before use. In order to use this you dab some of the lovely ginger smelling gel onto your dry face and then gently massage it into the skin.

This is about all you need to treat a full face with the Amaze Exfoliating Gel.

Cloys of the Amaze Exfoliating Gel on my face so you can see approximately how much I use each time. 

Within seconds it starts to feel a little gritty under your fingers and then there are suddenly little balls. That is literally dead skin lifting away from your face and gathering. Keep massaging in circular motions gently all over the face and when the gel seems to have absorbed in/dried up then stop. You'll have this creepy but super satisfying experience of literally seeing all this dead skin come off. A quick rinse with a wash cloth and you're done. (Scroll quick if you don't want to see a pic of me with the result of dead skin balls on my face, I've kept it small so it's easier to ignore. Click the image to see it bigger if you want a better idea).

The impressive results of dead skin removal with the Amaze Gel.

The absolute best part? There is literally no pain associated with this. No stinging, no redness, no scrubbing, no tingling, no menthol. Literally no sensitivity. I'm not sure how it works but this stuff blows me away! There isn't even a grit to this product just smooth super-powered gel.

Afterward using this my skin is so so soft. Like I have to try not to touch my face soft. It has such great ingredients as well, including hyaluronic acid, and aloe as some of my favourites.

Here are the full ingredients: "Aqua (Water), Propanediol (Zemea, Approved by Ecocert), *Vegetable Glycerine, Cetrimonium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Polygonum Multiflorum Root, *Camellia Sinesis Leaf (White Tea), Potassium Sorbate, Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, *Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, *Panax Ginseng Root, Angelica polymorpha Sinensis, Sodium Hyaluronate" *items are certified organic.

Past all this, the packaging is super luxurious in my opinion. I love the heavy frosted glass jar and the bamboo lid. The only plastic part is the inner lid and the cover that goes over the mouth of the jar to seal in the moisture. I do wish they'd have come up with a way to eliminate the plastic completely but they did an admirable job in getting most of it.

The Amaze Exfoliating Gel retails for $49 CND for 30 ml or if you can find it some places like thegreenkiss.com have a 10 ml trial size available (as of this moment they are sold out). You can also find this product through PureAnada.ca  and well.ca. Take a look around a bit before you buy because sometimes these places have deals and you can save a bit of money (which is what I did). So yes, while this gel is expensive in my opinion it is so worth it. You don't need much per use and frankly the results are so immediate and satisfying it's well worth the investment.

Sprite Rating: 9.5/10

I will totally purchase this again once I finish it. I love how I can do this super quickly so it fits into my routine really easily, and I love the results. 

Have you tried anything from this brand Viva Organics? What are some of your favourite treatments? I'd love to hear from you!

Pure Anada Natural Mascara Review

Today I'm reviewing a natural Canadian brand called Pure Anada. I was in the market for a new mascara and honestly I didn't have high hopes. I used to love the blinc tubing mascara but when I noticed it had plastic in the formula I felt like I had to make a change. I just couldn't get over the fact that every time I washed my mascara off the little plastic tubes went down the drain and added to our global micro-plastics problem. The plastics don't break down over time and as someone who truly believes we need to be restoring as many of our natural spaces as possible I felt guilty every time I put on mascara.

However, there was a reason as to why I used tubing mascara in the past. It's easy to remove, doesn't flake or smudge, and it doesn't create racoon eyes when I cry or rub my eyes due to allergies. All these things I wanted in a mascara going forward.

On a whim I decided to try Pure Anada's natural mascara. This is a vegan formula and I really like the ingredients of this (no plastics!). I thought I'd therefore give it a shot as it's only $14 CND for 9 grams- a significant drop from my previous mascara. They even have a sample size of 4 grams in a half-sized tube through their website for $7 CND.

Here is a list of the ingredients: Aqua, CI 77499, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Stearic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Myrica Pubescens (Bayberry) Fruit Wax, Pullulan, Glyceryl Caprylate, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Xanthan Gum, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Galactoarabinan

Pure Anada's natural mascara comes in two shades Black and Brown and only the one formula. I purchased the black and it comes in a nice heavy black tube. Upon testing and continued use I am still frankly blown away by how good this mascara is.

This formula doesn't smudge on me, it doesn't leave raccoon eyes, and it flakes very minimally (even my beloved tubing mascara flaked a bit on me- I have allergies and so I'm always touching my eyes). This washes off really easily too.

I also find the formula of the mascara to be both slightly volumizing and lengthening. I've shown below myself with firstly no mascara, mascara on one eye and not the other and finally on both eyes so you can really see the effect the Pure Anada Natural Mascara gives. I love that it creates a natural but still amplified look to the eyes. Perfect for everyday and someone who doesn't want the fake lashes look.

Wearing no mascara

Wearing no mascara on the left eye and Pure Anada mascara on the right eye

Wearing Pure Anada Mascara on both eyes

The only problem I have with the mascara is actually the wand. It has an odd curve to it that I find difficult to use that also brings up too much product. It's not too much of an issue but I often struggle to get the wand to the inner corner of my eyelashes without hitting the brush against my eyelid.

I only ever have the patience for a single coat of mascara so I'm not sure how this would perform with multiple coats, however the Pure Anada website says that layering coats is possible. They also state that this is pH balanced for eyes and won't cause a burning nor stinging sensation even for those of us with sensitive eyes. Additionally it is described as water resistant which I would say is true as I do have watery eyes and this mascara doesn't come off until I gently cleanse it off at the end of the day. No major rubbing or harsh cleansers needed!

Overall, I'm really pleased with this find. I lucked out and found it at a Sobey's that had a natural cosmetics and medicinal section. However, their shipping through the Pure Anada website is reasonable too. 

Sprite Rating: 9/10 

I wish the overall packaging itself was easier to recycle and that there was a slightly different wand but other than that this mascara rocks!

What mascara are you using at the moment? Have you tried the brand Pure Anada?

Skylar Perfume Palette Review

I love different scents and how they can evoke memories and feelings. However, I'm sadly pretty sensitive to perfume- some give me instant headaches. Skylar is supposed to be a natural perfume brand, so I decided to give them a try as I'm usually ok with essential oils and I've tried another more natural fragrance company as well that I've had success with (they'll be featured in an upcoming review). Skylar states clearly that the are a clean, hypoallergenic, vegan and cruelty-free brand that is made in the USA. They also say that you can blend the perfumes in layers to create new scents.

I purchased this Skylar palette from Sephora for $27.00 CND. It includes their main line of perfumes that can be purchased in the full size (except the newest edition Salt Air). There are six perfumes in the palette. They also have a scent club that has a new roller ball perfume every month, but I've not tried that.

The packaging for this set was cute, with a nice sturdy box and decent sized little spray bottles for each of the scents. I love the watercolour spots beside each of the scent slots and how the back fully describes each scent. There was a lot of plastic in it though which I thought was a waste. The ingredients are listed clearly which I thought was great as many perfumes often just say fragrance which could be many ingredients.

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

First up is the fragrance Isle. Isle is described as having key notes of Bergamot, Cardamom, and Sandalwood, with the short description overall being Beachy, Dewy and Fresh. They go on to describe it as "With a subtle citrus and spiced sandalwood, this ocean-inspired oasis will have you feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready to take on the day".

This perfume is my second favourite of the bunch, but I honestly don't smell any of the supposed key notes. No sandalwood, no citrus. I would say that it is dewy and fresh with a touch of beachy though. Upon first sniff I smell sweetness and fresh water. Over time this becomes more ocean-like (without any of that overwhelming fake ocean scent that is so prevalent in fake candles). As it develops I could smell a hint of salt added to the water, and then later more sweet and water. As it settles more I get the tiniest hint of possible spice.

I think there could have been a bit more to this to make it a tad more unique but I do like it. If the sandalwood had shown up I probably would have really loved this.

Sprite Rating: 7/10

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

Second in the set is Coral. Coral is supposed to have key notes of Grapefruit, Apple Blossom, and Lily Petals. It's supposed to evoke Fruity, Floral, Flirty vibes. Skylar describes it as "With hints of grapefruit and a touch of apple blossom, this happiness booster will have you smiling all day long".

My take on this perfume is that it's alright. I did initially smell a fruitiness, but I didn't smell any grapefruit and the fruitiness disappeared into a typical 'perfume-y' floral/Jasmine scent. I didn't find this unique or different at all and I found it kind of one dimensional. I was probably the second most disappointed with this of the set as the description sounded great but I found it just didn't live up to my expectations. 

Sprite Rating: 3/10

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

Arrow is next in the palette. Arrow's key notes are Midnight Jasmine, Vanilla Bean and Patchouli Haze. It is said to embody Spicy, Warm and Seductive feelings. It is described as "With warm notes of patchouli and jasmine, this confidence complement will have you feeling like you're ready to take on the world".

I'll be honest and say this is the last of the perfumes from the set that I tried. I don't generally like Jasmine or Patchouli so even though I love Vanilla Bean I wasn't particularly looking forward to trying this one. I will say I was pleasantly surprised by it. I still didn't really like it but I didn't hate it either. It started as slightly spicy, slightly sweet and somehow a touch grounded. I didn't smell the patchouli at all. The spiciness does fade a little to become more traditional jasmine-perfume-like but it is still there and over time seems to almost come back stronger. If you like more spicy and seductive perfumes this one might be worth a try. 

Sprite Rating: 6/10

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

Meadow is fourth. Meadow is supposed to smell mainly of Orange Blossom, Ethereal Tuberose, and White Rose. This fragrance is supposed to be Floral, Chic and Beautiful. It's described as "With notes of baie rose, tuberose, and orange blossom, this floral fantasy will highlight your feminine, chic and coy side".

This perfume is my favourite of the bunch. It still has a sort of normal 'perfume' feel to it but it's the only one I didn't wash off soon after applying it and I am looking forward to wearing it again. I actually went back and smelt my wrist multiple times while on a walk. I found that it is sweet and fresh and floral and does give me a springtime meadow or french garden feel. Sometimes I get a hint of lily sometimes a hint of lilacs, all with a sweetened background. I can't quite pin it down. I really enjoy it though.

I don't smell orange blossom nor rose distinctly in this so if you are looking for that this isn't it. I did wish there was another layer to it however, just something a touch more. I'm debating on a larger size of this one as I do like the feminine feel it gives me.

Sprite Rating: 8/10

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

Nearing the end we have Capri next. Capri is said to have key notes of Bergamot, Neroli (Orange Blossom) and Grapefruit. It is supposed to have a Citrus, Sparkling, and Sweet feel. Skylar describes it as "With notes of bergamot, neroli and sparking wine, this carefree indulgence will have you feeling all of the vacation vibes".

Capri was the one of the set that I was looking forward to the most. At first this one to me smells like melon and then it becomes melon-bergamot then mainly bergamot. So it really smelt very normal 'perfume-like' and not too unique. I was really hopeful to smell the Neroli or Grapefruit but neither was there for me. It didn't give me an instant headache, and it was alright but unfortunately that's about all I can say about it.

Sprite Rating: 4/10

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

Last but not least is Willow. Willow is supposed to be Woodsy, Lush and Cool. The key notes in this one are Willow, Pine Resin and Heliotrope. The description is "With notes of cedar wood, pine and fir, this everyday serenity will put you at ease immediately, reflecting everything we love about the outdoors".

I was hesitant about Willow as I find fragrances with pine notes tend to be too sharp. Sadly I found that to be the case with this one too. At the very beginning I could smell a little cedarwood and something fresh and damp like ferns or wet moss. As it developed however all I could smell was the sharp pine. There was no heliotrope or floral at all for me. It also gave me a bit of a headache.

Sprite Rating: 4/10

I think the Skylar Perfume Palette was a great way to sample the majority of the line. It gave me a feel for the brand and let me find one that I liked. Overall though, I was kinda meh about most of them. I found many of the scents kind of typical 'perfume-like', some were even one-dimensional. More than one I ended up washing off shortly after applying. I was hoping for more nuances to them and less conventional generic 'perfume' scents. I do however really like Meadow, and Isle was nice as well. If I liked Jasmine at all then Arrow would have likely been a favourite.

I would recommend the palette if you have an interest in the line at all especially to try first or I would make sure to sample in store. As always scent is so subjective so although I may not have liked most of these, someone else certainly could- especially as Jasmine is not my thing and that is in more than one of these scents.

The travel roller balls for Skylar retail for $37.00 CND and $85.00 CND for the full size. The palette's are limited edition on Sephora and are $27.00 CND, but I believe they are not limited edition on the brand website.

Skylar is available through Sephora or through their own website Skylar. It's great they are being offered through Sephora as that makes them accessible for us Canadians. I believe if you get the palette through their brand website there is a coupon included for a reduction off of a full size bottle for afterwards. Something to note that I have heard is that if you purchase anything from Skylar through their own site, even the palette, they automatically sign you up for their monthly scent club and take automatic payment for that so that is something to be aware of beforehand.

Have you tried Skylar perfume? If so which scent were you drawn towards? Have you tried any other 'clean' or 'natural' perfume companies? Let me know!

Elate Cosmetics Creme Lipstick in Adore Review

Recently I've been really getting into 'Clean', 'Green' or 'Natural' beauty. By no means am I saying that mainstream products are out of my routine or even necessarily harmful (which seems to be the cause of many people switching over), merely that I am trying to buy from more eco-conscious brands that give back more, have more biodegradable formulas and packaging, and try to make a difference. I also have a lot of sensitivities and ingredient allergies and I find it's easier to a) figure out the ingredients in these products and b) avoid many of the acne causing ingredients that cause me problems.

Elate Cosmetics is one of these brands, and bonus they're Canadian!

I've not tried much from this brand but what I did pick-up was one of their Creme lipsticks. The lipstick I chose was a shade called Adore that I believe was limited edition as I can't find it on the site anymore. If you are looking for something very close colour-wise Plush is very similar, just a tad pinker.

Adore is in my opinion the perfect mauve/everyday shade. It's ever-so-slightly purple and I love it. It is very much a 'my lips but better' shade for me and I love how makes me feel. Sophisticated and unique but not too different as to cause a fuss at work.  (Please excuse the acne in the photos, I do the best I can).

Wearing Adore in Natural Lighting

Wearing Adore in Indoor Lighting

The Elate Creme lipstick formula is a lovely one, it's creamy and has medium-long wear time. Without major eating/drinking it lasts about 3-4 hours on average. It's not transfer-proof but it's moisturizing and comfortable to wear and it has a lovely vanilla smell from the real Vanilla Absolute that is one of the ingredients.

Natural Light swatch of Adore (Most realistic)

Indoor Light swatch of Adore

Here is a list of the ingredients:

Ricinus Communis (Organic Castor Seed Oil), Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Cold Pressed Jojoba Seed Oil), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla Wax), Limnanthes Alba (Organic Meadowfoam Seed Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit (Unrefined Organic Shea Butter), Mangifera Indica (Organic Mango Seed Butter), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba Wax), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla Absolute Oil), +/- CI77499 (Black Oxide), CI77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77820 (Manganese Violet), CI77491 (Red Oxide)

Another benefit of these lipsticks is the beautiful packaging. The tubes are made of bamboo and aluminum metal wrapped on a recyclable plastic insert, so they are partially compostable and partially recyclable. Elate recommends crushing the bamboo and composting that part and to recycle the rest. I particularly love the burned/etched design on all the tubes.

There are a couple downsides to the packaging however, the first being that they come with a sticker that shows you that the lipstick hasn't been opened. This is fine, and it isn't plastic which is great, but the sticker doesn't come off cleanly and you need to spend some time cleaning the bits and residue off of the bamboo which is annoying.

My tube also came slightly ski-jawed so the bullet is a touch crooked. It wastes a bit of product when I twist the tube up and down which is a shame, but doesn't affect the use except for my gentle handling of it.

Elate is a great company that is available in multiple places so if you want to pick-up one of their products. So look around to see if you can get a deal anywhere, here is the link to the lipstick page on their website. The lipsticks retail for $22 CND, which I think is very reasonable considering the packaging and ingredients, etc. There are currently 13 different shades that I think would suit a wide variety of skin tones.

Overall, I do really like these lipsticks, I would get another of these (possibly in the shade Kink, it looks interesting). I would have preferred a touch more wear time, and for the bullet to not have been so fragile but I do like the moisturizing factor and the ingredients, packaging and perfect shade Adore turned out to be.

Sprite Rating: 8.5/10

Rouge Bunny Rouge Eyeshadows~ Swatches and Review Part 2

This review is going to feature Periwinkle Cardinal and Delicate Hummingbird.

To view Abyssinian Catbird and Resplendent Quetzal go to Part One!

Or there is Bashful Flamingo and Fire-Tailed Sunbird in Part Three.

Male and Female Northern Cardinals

Firstly for Periwinkle Cardinal. Gosh this name kills me. No Cardinals are Periwinkle in colour. None. There are 3 species of Cardinal, the Northern Cardinal as seen above, the Vermillion Cardinal a slightly orangey but still red cardinal and the Desert Cardinal seen below.

Desert Cardinal from E.J. Photo

As evidenced from the photos none of these birds are purple-blue (i.e. periwinkle). None of these birds are the green-blue of this eyeshadow either. WHYYYY?!!?!?
As a zoology major this bothers me. There are so many lovely birds that would fit this eyeshadow perfectly, even ones that are related to Cardinals such as the Indigo Bunting.

Indigo Bunting from Birds of Corpus Christi

Anyways, for this post we also have Delicate Hummingbird. This is also not named after a specific species of Hummingbird but I think we can all agree that Hummingbirds in general are rather delicate so I don't mind so much. Here are some photos of Hummingbirds that match the purple-taupe of this eyeshadow. See the purple-taupe bits on his belly?

Purple-Throated Mountain-Gem Hummingbird from Jim Scarff photography

Purple-throated Mountain-gem Hummingbird photo by Latafat Correa

So gorgeous!

L: Periwinkle Cardinal, R: Delicate Hummingbird

Periwinkle Cardinal is interesting as depending on the light it can look medium pine green with blue undertones, or blue with silver undertones. On the lid it's semi-sheer meaning it looks like your skin shows through the shadow at certain angles but not when you change the way the light hits it. If you build it up you can get a more intense look but it never quite covers your skin colour entirely. This allows it to be very wearable of course but is something to keep in mind if you like a more pigmented eyeshadow look. Personally for the depth of colour I was expecting something more pigmented as this semi-sheer consistency is better for a highlighter shade in my opinion. Delicate Hummingbird is similar in that sometimes it looks distinctly purple whereas other times it looks quite silver-taupe.

Left pair is over bare skin, middle is over Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Right is over Pixie Epoxy

As you can tell Delicate Hummingbird is the more pigmented shade. It's easy to build up and almost creamy in texture. It's also the longer lasting one, actually living up to the claim of long lasting. As with Abyssinian Catbird in the first part it seems to do best over bare skin for the long-lasting claim. Periwinkle Cardinal seems to fade over time, but lasts slightly more than Resplendent Quetzal from part one. It doesn't however last all day and it doesn't seem to do well over primer either. 

T-B: Urban Decay Flipside, Hi-Fi Slime and Snails, Barry M Kingfisher, Rouge Bunny Rouge Periwinkle Cardinal, Too Faced Rich Bitch duo blue side, Wet n' Wild dark green from Snow Sprite palette, Urban Decay Misdemenor

As you can see none of these really comes close to Rouge Bunny Rouge's Periwinkle Cardinal. Too Faced Rich Bitch has no green tones and has a gold highlight, whereas Hi-Fi's Slime and snails isn't as deep has a duochrome and mini glitter as well as lacking green undertones. They all seem to lack the silvered sage look that Periwinkle Cardinal has too.

Top: Rouge Bunny Rouge Periwinkle Cardinal, Bottom: Darling Girl Serenity

Then thinking I was finished of course I found a closer shadow match for Periwinkle Cardinal. Darling Girl's Serenity is very close in tone and just a tad bluer. It's also sparklier whereas the Rouge Bunny Rouge shadow is more satin-metallic in finish. Honestly on the eye I think either would work.

T-B: Urban Decay AC/DC, Urban Decay Mushroom, Rouge Bunny Rouge Delicate Hummingbird, Scaredy Cat Cosmetics Arctic Royal, Almay Green Eyes Trio purple shade

Delicate Hummingbird I actually found a very close dupe for as well. Surprisingly it was in one of my old Almay trio palettes called Trio for Green Eyes. The purple shade (if you can get ahold of that palette, I think it was discontinued but may still be avaiable online in some places) is a satin, less silvered version of Delicate Hummingbird. Delicate Hummingbird has better pigmentation and is a tad more complex but they are very close.

Would I buy these shades again? Though I have a dupe of the Delicate Hummingbird I would purchase this shade again due to the lovely pigmentation it has the neutral but still fun shade of it and the decent wear-time. The Periwinkle Cardinal I would not purchase again however due to the strange semi-sheer consistency of it. If I wanted that it would be great but I was hoping for a richer more true to pan colour, as it is a lovely unique shade. The only way I can see myself wearing this shade is over Pixie Epoxy whereas at least with Delicate Hummingbird I can wear it without extra prep.

Sprite Rating: 8.5/10 for Delicate Hummingbird, 6.5/10 for Periwinkle Cardinal

What does everyone think? Do you like either shade?