If you insist on shopping at Sephora (I totally get it, no judgement here) try to buy products from the below companies. While these companies aren't 100% chemical free, they are more cautious about their ingredients. Im a firm believer that every little bit helps...
Tarte Cosmetics - All Tarte products are formulated without parabens, mineral oil, sodium laurel sulfate, triclosan, synthetic fragrances, and gluten. They are cruelty free which is a huge plus in my book. Maureen Kelly started Tarte out of her one bedroom apartment in 1999. I love stories like this! Now through July 27th, Tarte is hosting their Friends and Family event. Use code FNF on their website and enjoy 30% off.
Cover FX - All Cover FX products are free of parabens, gluten, mineral oil, fragrance, and talc. Also a cruelty free company. I used to love MAC products, especially their studio fix powder. Cover FX was founded by one of the same guys who served as the chief chemist and co-founder of MAC. Cover FX's pressed mineral foundation powder is almost identical to MAC's studio fix powder but without the above chemicals.
Bite Beauty - All Bite Beauty lip products are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMO, and triclosan. Because you eat what you put on your lips, Bite Beauty uses real ingredients. All products are handmade in house and never outsourced. Their lipsticks, called Amuse Bouche, come in 34 shades. I have it in radish and it's gorgeous!
Josie Maran Cosmetics - Most of the Josie Maran cosmetics are free of petroleum, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and fragrance. Most of them also contain her signature ingredient, 100% Pure Argan Oil. This fair trade oil is grown and harvested responsibly by co-ops of Moroccan women who earn a living wage. Josie Maran is committed to natural, earth-friendly beauty.
July 25, 2016
July 21, 2016
Is your nail polish toxic?
Nail polish contains quite a few harmful ingredients. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), a suspected hormone-disruptor that’s commonly used as a fire retardant in furniture. Really? But I love to paint my nails! I have an entire box of Essie nail polish in almost every color. Sigh.
So I went on the hunt for nail polish sans the above ingredients. I found one, Mineral Fusion. All Mineral Fusion nail polishes are formaldehyde free, toluene free, camphor free, DBP free, and 100% vegan. All of their products are made in the USA and many of them are still handmade. Mineral Fusion is committed to sustainability and utilizes wind power, soy inks, packaging from recycled materials and packaging that is recyclable. I already like this company!
The nail polish comes in 61 different shades so you won't have a problem finding your favorite color. The polish costs $7.99 which is cheaper then Essie. Score! I bought the nail polish at Wegmans but it's also available online at Target and on their website below.
Mineral Fusion Nail Care
So I went on the hunt for nail polish sans the above ingredients. I found one, Mineral Fusion. All Mineral Fusion nail polishes are formaldehyde free, toluene free, camphor free, DBP free, and 100% vegan. All of their products are made in the USA and many of them are still handmade. Mineral Fusion is committed to sustainability and utilizes wind power, soy inks, packaging from recycled materials and packaging that is recyclable. I already like this company!
The nail polish comes in 61 different shades so you won't have a problem finding your favorite color. The polish costs $7.99 which is cheaper then Essie. Score! I bought the nail polish at Wegmans but it's also available online at Target and on their website below.
Mineral Fusion Nail Care
July 13, 2016
Purifying Charcoal Mask
Beautycounter just came out with a Purifying Charcoal Mask. This mineral-rich mix of kaolin clay and charcoal is the best mask I have ever used. Hands. Down.
The mask comes a 2.75oz bottle for $45. Don't let that scare you because a tiny bit goes a long way. You only need a little more than the size of a quarter to cover your whole face. It goes on very smooth and isn't super thick like most face masks. It's black when you put it on and dries gray. It takes about 10 minutes to dry completely then you just rinse it off with warm water. It comes off very easily and very quickly. The mask works to exfoliate, draw out impurities, and sooth. My face felt extremely soft and squeaky clean after the mask. I highly recommend this!
Purifying Charcoal Mask
The mask comes a 2.75oz bottle for $45. Don't let that scare you because a tiny bit goes a long way. You only need a little more than the size of a quarter to cover your whole face. It goes on very smooth and isn't super thick like most face masks. It's black when you put it on and dries gray. It takes about 10 minutes to dry completely then you just rinse it off with warm water. It comes off very easily and very quickly. The mask works to exfoliate, draw out impurities, and sooth. My face felt extremely soft and squeaky clean after the mask. I highly recommend this!
Purifying Charcoal Mask
July 03, 2016
Ditch your moisturizers and replace them with oils
I ditched my face lotions and body lotions and replaced them with oils. Sounds crazy right? Keep reading. Moisturizing lotions, for the face and body, are useless. They are filled with toxic chemicals like parabens, fragrance, petrochemicals, alcohol, and oil emulsified in water. The only ingredient that provides any moisture to the skin is the oil. So why not take out all those additives and start using straight oil?
We have been brainwashed by the beauty industry that oil is bad. They made us believe that oil clogs pores causing acne and blackheads. This is true when using the wrong oils, like mineral oil or animal oil. This is not the case with plant oils. Plant oils will not clog pores, are easily absorbed into the skin, and strengthen skin cell membranes.
I know some of you are still questioning oil. Let's go back to chemistry 101. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that 'like dissolves like.' The best way to dissolve a non-polar solvent like oil, is by using another non-solvent similar in composition: other oils. By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oils with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruit.
My advice is to ditch the store-bought moisturizers and use plant oils on your face and body. In the morning, I put jojoba oil on my face after I shower. I use jojoba oil because it's the lightest oil and absorbs the fastest. At night, I switch between apricot oil, grapeseed oil, and coconut oil on my face. For my body, I make my own body butter (using oils, recipe below) or you can just use any plant oil as your body moisturizer. My favorite plant oils are sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, apricot oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil. These oils are non-toxic, chemical free, and get the job done more effectively than any moisturizer you can buy in the store.
We have been brainwashed by the beauty industry that oil is bad. They made us believe that oil clogs pores causing acne and blackheads. This is true when using the wrong oils, like mineral oil or animal oil. This is not the case with plant oils. Plant oils will not clog pores, are easily absorbed into the skin, and strengthen skin cell membranes.
I know some of you are still questioning oil. Let's go back to chemistry 101. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that 'like dissolves like.' The best way to dissolve a non-polar solvent like oil, is by using another non-solvent similar in composition: other oils. By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oils with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruit.
My advice is to ditch the store-bought moisturizers and use plant oils on your face and body. In the morning, I put jojoba oil on my face after I shower. I use jojoba oil because it's the lightest oil and absorbs the fastest. At night, I switch between apricot oil, grapeseed oil, and coconut oil on my face. For my body, I make my own body butter (using oils, recipe below) or you can just use any plant oil as your body moisturizer. My favorite plant oils are sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, apricot oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil. These oils are non-toxic, chemical free, and get the job done more effectively than any moisturizer you can buy in the store.
Homemade Body Butter
1/2 cup Shea butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup almond oil
15 drops essential oil ( I use Young Living orange or grapefruit)
Melt the shea and coconut oil in the microwave. Once liquid, add the almond oil and essential oil. Mix together. Pour into the stand mixer bowl and let cool until the oils start to solidify. This is important because you won't be able to whip it up if it's still liquid. Once it's solidified, turn on the stand mixer at a high speed for about 8 minutes. It will whip up nicely and look like whipped cream. Transfer it into mason jars.
1/2 cup Shea butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup almond oil
15 drops essential oil ( I use Young Living orange or grapefruit)
Melt the shea and coconut oil in the microwave. Once liquid, add the almond oil and essential oil. Mix together. Pour into the stand mixer bowl and let cool until the oils start to solidify. This is important because you won't be able to whip it up if it's still liquid. Once it's solidified, turn on the stand mixer at a high speed for about 8 minutes. It will whip up nicely and look like whipped cream. Transfer it into mason jars.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)