My mom is full of good advice, but perhaps the best advice she ever shared is something I rely on everyday: never leave the house without mascara on! I strive to live a simple and natural life, but I think I look about a million times better with at least a quick swipe of mascara, so I follow her advice even if we have no plans for the day.

I have tried every “natural” mascara on the market, and every single one has let me down.  Either they don’t provide enough “umpf” or they flake and smudge halfway through the day.  Fortunately, my favorite make-up brand, Jane Iredale, has a new mascara made from sea minerals and sweet almond oil.  After a few weeks of testing the new Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara courtesy of the team at Jane Iredale, I can very happily say it is AWESOME.  Full lashes and no crumblies or clumps!

I first discovered the Jane Iredale line of natural make-up a couple years ago at Acacia Organics, and ever since I have been hooked. Not only are Jane Iredale’s products high quality, but they are non-comedogenic (meaning the skin can breathe) and they have earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation.  Most important to me, there is no measurable amount of heavy metals in any Jane Iredale product (including lead and nickel).  It is make-up I can feel good about using on my trouble-prone skin.

To demonstrate, here’s a picture of me (gulp!) without any make-up:

And here’s how I look after a quick four minutes with a few of my favorite Jane Iredale products:

Jane Iredale’s products make it easy for me to create a natural and healthy look without spooky chemicals.

Here’s what I use on a daily basis:

Radiant Pure Pressed Base

Awake Pure Pressed Blush

Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara

Daytime Eye Shadow Kit

Madison PureMoist Lipstick

Midnight Blue Eye Liner