Brand Focus: Gabriel Cosmetics & Zuzu Luxe

Gabriel and Zuzu Luxe are sister brands, and definitely well known worldwide.  I've already tried (and loved) their mascara, brow pencil, and liquid liner, and although I've always wanted to explore more, the price point in Canada is quite high. When I say high, I mean almost double the American pricing and it hardly ever goes on sale. I think it's amazing that their products are made in the USA, with the exception of their pencils which are made in Germany. But what I absolutely love most, is that they are vegan and free from the following:

• Coal Tar Derivatives or FD&C agents
• Parabens
• Soy
• Mineral Oil
• Peanuts & Tree Nuts
• Lanolin
• Talc
• Propylene Glycol
• Hydrogenated Oils
• Gluten
• Phthalates
• DBP
• Toluene
• Lead
• Formaldehyde
• Nano/Micro sized particles

You can read more about Gabriel/Zuzu Luxe here. 

I was given the opportunity to try out a few of their products and decided on the *Zuzu Luxe Dual Powder Foundation in D-10, *Zuzu Luxe Mascara in Onyx, *Zuzu Luxe Lipliner in Bounce, *Gabriel Lipliner in Berry, *Gabriel Moisturizing Liquid Foundation in Soft Beige, and *Gabriel Eye Primer in Neutral.

For ingredients, click here

Good eye primers are hard to come by, especially when you have really oily, deep set lids. Every brand boasts theirs as the best, but so far only the *Gabriel Eye Primer ($13.55 USD/2.5 g) has worked for me. It's extremely creamy, offers pretty good vein coverage, evens out the lids well, and keeps shadows from creasing for several hours. Not sure that it would last quite as long in the middle of a super hot Canadian summer day, when humidity takes over and you can barely breath, but I guess we'll find out in a few months. The neutral shade is slightly darker than pictured above and leans cool. On medium to dark skin tones, this could appear white on the lids. I've applied this primer with fingers and brushes, and much prefer the even application that a brush gives. The packaging is lovely, super small and sturdy, and great for travelling with. If you're looking for an eye primer, I highly recommend this one.

For ingredients, click here.

I'm beyond in love with the *Zuzu Luxe Dual Powder Foundation ($28.30 USD/9 g) and have used it every single time, without fail, since receiving it. It provides such beautiful coverage on its own and extra, flawless, coverage over top of my beloved Sappho Liquid Foundation in Leisha. It can sometimes cling to dry patches, although it's not often that I find my skin looking cakey or flaky when wearing this foundation and my skin tends to lean dry in the colder months. I don't want to jinx it but, it hasn't developed a crust on the top like most pressed powders do. You know, when you have to scrape the top layer in order to get the product to actually come off on your brush or sponge? So annoying. The shade is a tad light for my skin but is easily manageable. D-10 is described as Pale Ivory Skin/Pink Undertones, however, I don't find that it leans pink at all. I chose this shade prior to them revamping their site and could swear it was described as neutral, which I find it is. The compact is a bit bulky, but it's great for taking on the go because of how sturdy it is and the great sized mirror (which I've covered with the sponge). My only issue, being Canadian, is that I cannot find the damn refill pans ($21.25 USD/9 g). I've called 4 different stores within the GTA and nobody carries them. What's up with that Gabriel?? It is probably the best foundation that I've ever used, to date, but if I can't easily get my hands on a refill, I may need to find another powder :(:(:(.

For ingredients, click here.

I really wanted to love this *Gabriel Moisturizing Liquid Foundation ($28 USD/30 ml), like really wanted to love it. I didn't play with it much because it was way too pink for my warm/neutral skin tone, however, I did wear it once (around the house). It provided beautiful medium to full coverage, minimally clinged to dry patches, provided a dewy finish, and wore pretty well. I've swatched all of the available light to medium shades, of this foundation, and find that they're all cool toned, which is really disappointing. Hopefully they include a wider range of undertones at some point.

For Gabriel ingredients, click here. For Zuzu ingredients, click here.

I've never been a lipliner girl, until now. They really do make a difference in how your lipstick wears and helps define your lips, especially when wearing bolder shades. Both the *Gabriel Lipliner ($12 USD/1.13 g) in Berry and the *Zuzu Luxe Lipliner ($13.80 USD/1.13 g) in Bounce are stunning. Berry is described as a Pinkish Plum/Cool Blue Undertone and Bounce is described as a Deep Pinkish Plum/Cool, both are accurate descriptions. They're incredibly long wearing, pigmented, creamy, and just an absolute pleasure to use. I love wearing them on their own and under a lipstick or gloss. The only negative I have is that the caps don't stay on tightly, specifically the Gabriel one. Aside from that, I'm hooked and desperately want to pick up a few more (Innocence, Port, and Red).
Get it here: Gabriel, Pharmaca, and most health food stores (including Whole Foods, Goodness Me!, The Big Carrot, and Nature's Emporium). 
*Products provided for review consideration. All opinions are entirely my own.

Recipe: Easy Vegan & Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cups

If you follow me on Instagram, then you may have already seen and drooled over this picture. Peanut butter cups have been my favourite chocolate since I can remember, but store bought ones are usually loaded with a bunch of crap. Opting to make your own is great especially since it's so easy, you have control over what actually goes into them, and it's healthier (in moderation, of course). For the record, I made these for NYE and they were a hit. 

This recipe is completely customizable. Feel free to make any changes that you want and let me know what you changed up. Also, if you make these and post a picture to social media, tag me! I always love seeing what you guys try, whether beauty or food, based on my recommendations.

What you'll need:

• 283 g of chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life)
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
• approximately 1/2 cup of natural peanut butter (or whatever other nut/seed butter you like)
• vanilla to taste (I used about 1 tbsp)
• salt to taste 
• maple syrup to taste (I used about 4-5 tbsp)
• muffin tins and liners (about 12 to 15)

For the peanut butter filling:

Combine peanut butter, vanilla, maple syrup, and salt. Mix until well combined. Place in fridge until it hardens a bit, usually about 10 - 15 minutes. 

If you're using salted peanut butter, you could omit the salt. Since I don't measure anything out, start by adding in only a little sweetener of choice, salt, and vanilla, and taste it as you go along. You may want to add more or less of each ingredient to suit your taste buds. 

For the chocolate:

Combine chocolate chips and coconut oil. Stir frequently until smooth and melted.

To melt my chocolate I filled a pot with a bit of water, turned my stove top on low, and placed a stainless steel bowl over top of the pot. I then put the chocolate and coconut oil in. You're more than welcome to melt the chocolate however you like, of course.

To create the actual cups:

Line muffin tins with liners, then put 1 tablespoon (anymore and the ratio of chocolate to pb will be off) of melted chocolate in each. Place in freezer for about 7 minutes or until solid. Once solid, scoop as much filling as you'd like into each one, I used about a teaspoon, then pat it down leaving a tiny border around the edges (or don't! Whatever you like!). Cover with 1 - 2 tablespoons of melted chocolate* and place in freezer for 20+ minutes.

*If you'd like to top yours with anything, like I did, do it after putting melted chocolate over the peanut butter and before putting them in the freezer. I topped mine with coconut, cacao nibs, and toffee (not vegan but my boyfriend loves it).

And VOILA! These are so fun to make, you can definitely get your kids involved although you may need to double the ingredients as I sense they'll be eating more than helping. Also, I recommend storing these in the fridge as they taste so much better cold and will hold together better.

Bon appetit!