Makeup Review: Zuzu Luxe Dual Powder Foundation

I did it! I finally gave up my Urban Decay "mineral" foundation which I was in love with and used daily until I researched what was actually in it. The main culprits: Methylparaben and propylparaben. Parabens are synthetic preservatives that are actually endocrine disruptors because they can mimic estrogen in the body, and as a study from Cornell University found, a high life time exposure can lead to a high risk of breast cancer. Remember, everything you put on your body goes into your body. Parabens are all over the place; in deodorants, shampoo, moisturizers, etc so make sure your beauty products are strictly paraben free!

When I was in New Jersey I headed to a health food store to try out some natural makeup, since there is so much more variety than in Canada. I tried foundation powders by Dr. Haushka as well as Mineral Fusion (who's eyeliner I reviewed here.), but Zuzu Luxe Dual Powder Foundation by Gabriel Cosmetics pretty much won fair and square. Plus on sale it was $10 cheaper than Urban Decay- a rare occurrence when it comes to natural makeup. The powder is more compact as opposed to loose mineral powder- which is actually safer since there is less of a chance of inhaling tiny particles from "mineral foundations" which can damage the lungs and cause scar tissue over time.

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The way the foundation felt and stuck to my skin was great compared to the others which felt a lot lighter on the skin and would probably not last throughout the day. Surprisingly one application of the ZuZu lasts me twice as long as Urban Decay. It can actually be used for more coverage if you wet the sponge a little more, providing an alternative to liquid foundation- since their actual liquid foundation wasn't nearly as impressive as their mineral one. It also comes with a built in mirror and a little applicator sponge - which I actually never use but it's a nice touch.

The ingredients are considerably safer than Urban Decay, with absolutely no parabens and with the inclusion of ingredients such as avocado extract, jojoba seed oil and sea fennel extract which promote healthy skin. And finally, it is vegan, animal cruelty free and gluten free! You can find this at your local health food store, online at the website above, or at Whole Foods.

I highly recommend this product if you like to have light daily coverage for a more natural look without harmful parabens. Definitely my new favorite :)

-Sara