MADARA EcoCosmetics – Certified Organic Makeup

Natural and Organic seems to be the latest keywords in the cosmetics industry and although we would be familiar with organic skincare, how familiar are you with organic makeup? Madara EcoCosmetics is one brand with organic makeup and we can now get it in Malaysia at Bodybar.

Madara is a brand from Latvia – I challenge you to tell me where that is! :D – and they use flowers and grasses from their region in their cosmetics. The organic makeup line is a little small for now consisting of Tinting Fluid, Tinting Lipgloss and Shimmering Lotion. We can get the former 2 products here. I’ve also included the Regenerating Lipbalm in the mix which straddles the border between makeup and skincare :)

I’ve tried 3 of their makeup products thanks to Bodybar and first off, I must say that I love the packaging of Madara products. Its so sleek and pristine I’m impressed. Many brands that make eco-friendly or natural or organic products tend to have very utilitarian looking packaging – not so Madara. Great! Pleasing the eye is as important as pleasing the skin :P

Madara Decoface Moon Flower Tinting Fluid – RM128/50ml

The Madara Tinting Fluid is what I’d prefer to call a tinted moisturizer. The reason I say so is because its not quite thick enough to function as foundation yet there is some tint in the product to help even out skin tone while keeping skin moisturized. It comes in 2 shades – Moon Flower (pink toned) and Sun Flower (yellow toned).

I tested it in Moon Flower. As I expected, the coverage is very light so it is good for those days when you don’t want foundation on your face yet want to even out your skin tone. It does not quite cover imperfections so you might still need a concealer for that.

Due to my light skin tone I found that this tinting fluid was a little dark on my skin. I’d say it would be more suitable for those who have medium skintones and onwards. If you are very fair you may find it unsuitable.

Texture wise my skin felt moisturized throughout the day. I also found that the tinting fluid looked better after about an hour when it had settled into my skin. It looked natural but it would be nice if the shade was a little lighter.

Sun Flower has noticable warm tones so if you have a warm skintone or a tan, I think it would look amazing on you! Read on below for a chance to score a free sample to try this for yourself :)

Ingredients: Aqua, Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil*, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Distillate*, Glycerin*, Theobroma Cacao Seed (Cocoa) Butter*, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hypericum Perforatum (St. John’s Wort) Extract*, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Extract*, Chamomilla Recutita (Camomile) Extract*, Algae Extract, Plantago Major (Plantain Leaf) Extract*, Cetearyl Glucoside, Capryloyl Glycine, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide***, Xantan Gum, Aroma**, Citral**, Eugenol**, Limonene**, Linalool** [+/- (may contain), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)]

Madara DecoLips MoonKissed Tinting Lipgloss – RM48/10ml

This one is a tinted solid lipgloss. However, don’t think of it as a lipgloss in the conventional goopy high shine style we are familiar with. Instead think of a tinted lip balm and you have the concept right.

This tinting lipgloss adds a tint of colour to your lips while keeping it soft and supple. A nice alternative to applying lipbalm because there is soft colour so your lips don’t have to look naked :D

It comes in 2 colours – Moonkissed (cool soft pink) and Sunkissed (warm gold). Like other Madara cosmetics, it is only separated into cool and warm tones so choose the colour you think might suit you better.

Moonkissed which I tried is very very light pink on the lips. Barely noticable. I swatched Sunkissed and it showed up on the back of my hand a little too warm but I might try that one day to warm up my face. There is very little shimmer or colour but what’s nice is that your lips do not feel dry.

It is, as it says – a tinted lip gloss which is very portable (no liquid = airplane friendly) and adds just a hint of colour without drying out the lips. :)

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil*, Helianthus Annuus Seed (Sunflower) Oil*, Theobroma Cacao Seed (Cocoa) Butter*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Extract*, Lecithin, Aroma**, Citral**, Geraniol**, Limonene**, Linalool** [+/- (may contain), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)]

Madara Regenerating Lip Balm – RM48/10ml

Michelle of Bodybar told me this is one of her favourite products and I can see why. The Madara Regenerating Lip Balm is solid but very emollient. It melts on your lips so only very little is needed, and it keeps your lips soft and supple.

I’m not much of a lip balm girl but even I am liking this one – I’m taking it on my holidays where I know I’m going to end up with chapped lips if I’m not careful! The product comes in a 10ml tub which is quite big really and can last you a while. I have kept mine in my makeup pouch since I got it. I sometimes slick it over a lip stain to keep my lips from drying out, or on my lips during the day when I feel them starting to feel dry. It works a treat! :)

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil*, Helianthus Annuus Seed (Sunflower) Oil*, Theobroma Cacao Seed (Cocoa) Butter*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil*, Glycine Soja (Soy Bean) Oil (and) Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Lecithin, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract*, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Extract*, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley Germ) Extract*, Aroma**, Citral**, Geraniol**, Limonene**, Linalool

Overall Thoughts on Madara Organic Makeup

Overall, I’d say that for my first foray into organic makeup, it wasn’t too bad. I might venture to suggest that the Madara Tinting Fluid tinted moisturizer come in one more lighter shade because it would be a waste for fairer skinned girls to miss out on being able to try this.

As for the Madara Tinted Lipgloss, do not expect full on colour – its a tint and its a pretty tint on the lips. Just don’t complain you don’t see anything because its not a lipstick or gloss in the conventional sense as we know it.

The Madara Regenerating Lip Balm is a winner for me and that’s a bit of an honor since I’m not much into lipbalm. I guess if I’m going to be ingesting whatever I put on my lips, I should balance out the chemicals from all the lipsticks I put on with some organic balm yes? hehe…

Price wise, I find the 2 lip products well worth the price. I would however suggest that you test the Tinting Fluid first before buying sight unseen so you have a better chance of knowing if its for you … and here’s where we come in! :D

Promotions! Promotions!

While stocks last, print out the voucher below and take it to any Bodybar counter/store to redeem a free 3ml sample of Madara Moon Flower or Sun Flower Tinting Fluid. Believe me, that sample will last you at least a week!

(in store terms and conditions apply)

You can also get a one time 30% discount off all Madara products so that brings the price of the lipbalm or tinted lip gloss down to about RM33. Good eh? :) Samples are valid while stocks last and discount is until 31 December 2009.

If you aren’t in the Klang Valley, go to www.bodybarskincare.com and register as a member. Then email [email protected] with the subject line “MWS Madara Promo” and you will receive the e-voucher for the 30% discount on Madara products purchased online valid until 31 December 2009. I’m afraid the free sample isn’t valid for online orders.

Have you heard of Madara organic cosmetics before this? If you have, how do you like their products? Have you worked out where Latvia is yet? ;)

Stay beautiful,

Paris B