I will admit to having some reservations regarding natural beauty products. I am luxury lover, and until recently, at least in Canada, natural beauty was more backyard than luxurious. That, my friends, is old fashioned thinking. The past decade has ushered in an awareness about what we use on our skin, and while I haven’t abandoned all of the conventional beauty brands, I have opened my mind to alternatives. I give thanks to beauties like Jessica aka BeautyGuruNYC.com for enabling my beauty obsession and showing me how luxe and green are not mutually exclusive. And, I give credit to retailers like The Detox Market and ECODIVA for elevating natural and healthy beauty sales to a more suitable luxurious “space” vs the health food store cliché we have come to expect. No thank you, I do not want to see your hairy toes, sir, while I search for a healthy beauty alternative. Jeesh.

So you can imagine my delight when I tried the awesome W3LL PEOPLE. I’d heard of them, but had not really heard a lot about their products, other than knowing beauty lovers loved them. They have a neat story as well, from their site:

W3LL PEOPLE is an uncommon beauty dream team founded by an elite makeup artist, cosmetic dermatologist and treehugging entrepreneur. We’re passionate about making positive choices in life, particularly when it comes to self care. Skin, our largest organ, absorbs about 80% of what we put on it. This crucial fact drives our mission to create super premium quality cosmetics without using the potentially harmful artificial chemicals found in most conventional makeup. Our modern approach to beauty is built on simplicity, authenticity and performance. We get that you want minimalist makeup, but need instant gratification. You’ll find our delightfully stylish products unmatched in delivering a natural “no-makeup” look. State-of-the-art, all-natural formulas effortlessly deliver flawless coverage and soothing protection that’s unbelievably light. With W3LL PEOPLE you don’t just look good, you feel good. Join us in our crazy beautiful dream and look naturally fabulous every step along the way.

I think the “3” in their name refers to two things, the three founders, and their commitment to three things:

1. advanced performance
2. natural ingredients
3. social responsiblity

Sadly, with many natural brands, number one, the “advanced performance” thing,  has been lacking. Not so with W3LL PEOPLE. I have been using their Universalist Multi-Stick Luminous in Creamy Pink and their Realist Invisible Setting Powder  in translucent. And, dear readers, I am IN LOVE. This is saying a lot. I have many fleeting, fair-weather love affairs with my beauty prodz, new and old. But this love has me reaching for these products every single day that they have been in my hands. I was dubious, even skeptical that these would sway me away from similar items in my beauty arsenal.

Universalist Multi-Stick Luminous aka my glow-stick ($34.50 US): For the woman who wants it all, say hello to The Universalist. This magic color stick for eyes, cheeks and lips will take your entire look from drab to fab in seconds. The creamy formula has a satiny smooth, weightless texture – free from all harsh, artificial chemicals and petroleum. So, there’s no heavy, greasy film and no creasing. 

Realist Invisible Setting Powder aka a Magic Eraser for imperfections. Really. ($24 US): Keep it real with a polished, soft-focus look using this clear, weightless, all-natural mineral powder. Realist Invisible Setting Powder can be used by itself to minimize pores and control shine, or to set foundation for ultra-long wear.

• Creates polished, soft-focus, matte look
• Minimizes pores and imperfections
• Soothes and calms with organic aloe
• Controls shine with organic arrowroot and cornstarch

Swatches:

The Universalist Multi-Stick is just what it says it is, but is better than you can imagine. I am one of the people who breaks out with the Nars Multiple, as much as I tried it multiple times. The matte, the shimmer – it didn’t matter. I got cheek zits, and I normally never get those. I love the idea of a highlighter, but too much shimmer can be tricky when you have oily skin or, ahem, fine lines (I like that better than wrinkles…). The Universalist Luminous is the Goldilocks of beauty sticks. Not too dark, not too pale, not too sparkly, not too dry. It applies like a dream, and Creamy Pink is a very soft and natural shade for my fair-medium skin.

The Realist Setting Powder is a natural version of the blurring HD powders we all love *cue angel chorus*. It’s a setting powder that helps blend makeup, and blur imperfections. I like natural makeup that doesn’t feel like makeup. I had a friend that used to tease me asking me why I had makeup at all because it never looks like I am wearing any. Why, thank you, I said. That is exactly what I am going for.

You can buy W3LL PEOPLE beauty on their site, and you can check here for retailers.