When it comes to marketing, Love Beauty and Planet does very well. The hair care company has heavily promoted their natural shampoos and conditioners on social media. After many YouTube and Facebook ads, they finally convinced me to try their product. Besides, who doesn't want to "give a little love to the planet?"
My greatest hesitation so far has been the cost. Their 13.5 fl oz. bottles sell for $7-$8 each. Ouch. Coming from a woman with naturally thick, curly hair - I struggle to reason with this purchase. I go through shampoos and conditioners quickly. Particularly conditioner, since I use copious amounts. Dropping that amount of money on such a small bottle is difficult. But I'm still a business woman. I understand why I am paying those extra dollars. Typically natural, organic items are more expensive than average purchases.
Love Beauty and Planet has all the boxes checked. They claim to be 93% naturally derived and their bottles are 100% recycled. It's vegan and cruelty-free. Equally important, it's sulfate free. Their descriptions encourage customers that even an act as simple as a shower could make a difference to our earth.
The reviews never lie. I've read many thrilled customers rating LB&P five stars and raving about its benefits. Curiosity got the best of me.  I broke down and bought the hemp seed oil and nana leaf matching shampoo and conditioner. 
My initial reaction: the scent! Wow! Those essential oils burst into the air immediately. I instantly thought eucalyptus but it looks like spearmint is responsible for the aromatic qualities. The essential oils make your shower feel like relaxing spa.
Now, what I feared. As a society in the modern age, since we were young, we have used shampoos and conditioners filled with sulfates that strip our hair of its natural oils. Sulfate shampoos lather up quickly and break through even the craziest hair, but they are damaging and bad news overall. I've tried desperately to transition to sulfate-free products. But a lather-less shampoo goes no where in my thick hair. It absorbs immediately, and I can never move the product around my scalp. Love Beauty and Planet was no exception. This isn't a negative, our hair is simply not used to sulfate-free formulas. Realistically, we are supposed to be using a small amount of shampoo. But I can never. Because LB&P doesn't suds up well, I have to use a whopping amount to evenly distribute it on my scalp. The time I used a small amount, portions of the under side of my hair were oily. It's a process, right? Let those natural oils come back. It's just not the cutest look in the mean time.
I really loved the conditioner. But again, portion size isn't enough. My hair is dry and curly. I can't afford to not use a massive amount to de-tangle my hair. 
The results: I did notice my hair was more soft, bouncy, and shiny! And it smells lovely. But I don't think I'll be purchasing again until they can lower the price and increase the product size. For those with thinner or shorter hair, this might be the product for you. Personally, I just wish helping our planet wasn't so costly.

With the rise of YouTube and Instagram beauty gurus over the years, the cosmetics industry is fair game for anyone. Enter Jeffree Star: one of the most groundbreaking entrepreneurs in the beauty industry. His net worth alone is around $75 million dollars. Through his YouTube channel and launching his own cosmetics company, Star has garnered a massive following.
Last year, in collaboration with Shane Dawson, Jeffree Star did something no one else attempted to do. Through their documentary, "The Beautiful World of Jeffree Star" viewers got a behind the scenes look at how an eyeshadow palette is produced - from start to finish. The launch of the Conspiracy palette literally broke the internet - Jeffree Star Cosmetics sold 1 million palettes in 30 minutes! 
With Star's successful Blood Sugar and Blue Blood under his belt, he prepared the next new palette: Blood Lust.
What makes Star's makeup so revolutionary? He has perfectly mastered the art of personal branding. Each of his collections are a reflection of his own unique personality. He puts time and energy into producing a high quality product that tells a story. From the names to the formulas, Star is involved every step of the way. He isn't afraid to push boundaries. He is the pioneer of color. No one thought an entire palette consisting of blue colors would sell well - it did. Star isn't traditional. He creates makeup for fans to play with, to experiment, to self-express. Jeffree Star Cosmetics is fearless.
Surprisingly, in the YouTube documentary, Star revealed how low his margins are. Technically he loses money on every palette. It costs $20 to produce each one and he sells them for $52 consistently. By all means, he should charge more for such a high-end product, but he is committed to providing makeup that focuses on the fans and not the money. By doing so, he has become a self-made billionaire. Whatever he touches turns to gold.
Now, to the third edition of the Blood collection: Blood Lust. First of all, the package is sickening. No other company puts as much effort as Star's design team. While the two previous palettes are in the shape of coffins, Blood Lust is a hexagon. The exterior is covered in royal purple faux-velvet and features a golden latch for opening. The interior has a mirror and hosts 18 shades varying from purples, pinks, and darks. Of the three editions, this palette evokes the most emotion. The box itself has a gorgeous gold crown dripping in purple blood and the font echoes that of a fairytale like Sleeping Beauty. The shadow names emphasize the theme from Sworn Enemy to Bleeding Heart to High King. 

I look forward to swatching these colors and living precariously through my best friend who bought the palette. For now, my initial reaction to the color story was that of disappointment. With the reveal, I hoped to see a focus on dark purples and more gold tones. I understand, if one is not careful, purple tones can look unflattering on an eye. I feel Star focused more on wearable tones like pinks and lavenders. So far, when demonstrated, the colors are vivid and appear darker on the skin, so I'm trying not to judge just yet. But still. Shades like "Royal Pain" and "Bleeding Heart" are reminiscent of Blood Sugar's "Tongue Pop" and "Blood Sugar." I expected more from this color story - I felt like Star played it safe and focused more on improving the packaging. On a positive note, I will say "Executioner" and "Royal Queen" look absolutely stunning. 
No matter what I think, Jeffree Star Cosmetics has sold out of the collection and will continue to make its mark in the beauty world.