August 14, 2019

Shave this...

Let’s talk about shaving. We all have a love hate relationship with shaving, we love smooth skin but hate razor burn. There are a lot of new razors on the market designed specially for women. I bought and tried three of them, Billie, Flamingo and Joy, and here is what I think:

Billiehttps://mybillie.com/pages/razor
Shaving companies have always been created for men which may explain why we're still overpaying for women's razors and referred to as goddesses for shaving. Our razors are built for a better shave: 5 sharp blades, encased in 360° of charcoal shave soap, with rounded edges to help you navigate those curves. Our products are free of toxins and bad additives — we only use premium, healthy ingredients. How it works? Your Starter Kit consists of a Billie handle, the mag(net)ic holder and two 5-blade razor cartridges for $9. Ongoing, we’ll deliver four replacement blade cartridges to your door for $9 (at a frequency of your choice) so you never run out of supplies. As always, free shipping. 

Flamingohttps://www.shopflamingo.com/products/razor/

We’ve been a part of the Harry’s family for a while, so naturally we started with body hair. Since Harry’s launched in 2013, over a million women have used and loved the products, including us. We set out to design something better. The result? A line of quality products, for all the places you count on quality, meet Flamingo. Our custom cut Gothic Arch shaped blades are made at our very own factory in Germany. Using the highest quality Swedish steel, our blades give you a close, smooth shave every time. We added a flexible hinge and rounded edges to work with your body — knees, bikini line, you name it. And our hydrating Aloe Vera strip makes for the most comfortable shaving experience. The razor is $9 and the blades come in a 5 pack for $16. Only available at Target.

Joyhttp://www.joyshave.com/
In the wake of direct-to-consumer shaving startups like Flamingo and Billie, Joy is the latest player that's getting real about women's body hair — and making the products we actually want to use to deal with it (if we choose to do anything at all). As a shaving line, the most important product is probably the razor, which comes in a light pink or teal . Joy's version has five sharp Gillette blades and a Lubrastrip, which work together to give you a clean shave sans irritation. The non-slip grip handle makes it easy to hold, so you don't have to worry about dropping your razor. For $8.97 you get the razor handle and two blade refills. A set of four refill blades costs $8.97, while a set of eight refill blades costs even less per blade at $15.97. Only available at Walmart.

I have been using Billie for over a year. I’m happy with the razor but having razor blades only available via auto-ship, is not convenient. I cannot tell you how many times I ran out of blades and had to wait a week for new ones. It’s too stressful. I bought the Flamingo because two friends told me how great it was. My feeling, meh. I don’t think I get a close enough shave and I hate how flexible the blade head is. I recently bought Joy after seeing an ad. I wish I would have bought it months ago. It’s hands down the best razor have ever used. All summer I have been shaving my legs every other day. With Joy, I can go every two days because it gets such a close shave. Joy is definitely the winner, Billie is a close second if there was an alternative to auto-ship and Flamingo was my least favorite. 



March 22, 2019

ella+mila

If you are looking for a great chemical free nail polish, I found one! ella+mila is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after nail polishes. This line of lacquer was born from the simple idea of creating an eco-friendly yet high-end product. With a passion for color and dedication to healthy beauty, the founders strive to provide fashion-forward beauty products without compromise. These polishes are chip-resistant, quick-dry and high-shine. ella+mila nail colors do not contain toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), xylene and camphor making it a 7-free product. These polishes are also PETA-certified, cruelty-free and vegan.

I went directly on the ella+mila website and ordered five polishes. All About the Base (base coat), In a Rush (top coat), and three colors; Pinkterest+, From Rio XO, and I Pink I Love You.

I cannot believe how fast these polishes dry. It's unreal that your nails are completely dry in less than five minutes. They go on smooth, the colors are vibrant and the top coat definitely provides high-shine. I highly recommend this polish. You can purchase them directly on the ella+mila website and Target just picked up the line. My local Target says they will be available in store on March 26th. I can't wait to buy more colors!






March 12, 2019

Do You Know What's in Your Cosmetics


If you missed this article in the New York Times, it's definitely worth the read. 

Do You Know What’s in Your Cosmetics?

Thousands of chemicals, in billions of dollars worth of products, are being governed by regulations that haven’t been updated in decades.

According to the article, The American cosmetics industry is a $70 billion-a-year behemoth. The Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors has an annual budget of just $8 million and 27 staff members. The laws governing the office's authority run just two pages long and have not been updated since 1938, when they were first enacted. Such meager tools leave federal officials nearly powerless to regulate the makeup, lotions, toothpastes, deodorants and other elixirs that often are applied to the most intimate parts of the human body.

As I always say, you have to protect yourself. The cosmetics industry has not been regulated since 1938. Manufacturers are free to use any ingredients they want, without any warnings for you. Learn how to read labels or download the EWG app and scan your products for safety before you buy. 

February 03, 2019

Bite Beauty Lip Products

Anyone who knows me, knows that I always have on bright bold lipsticks. I don't wear eye makeup so I can get away with lips that pop. I'm obsessed (as you can see below) with Bite Beauty lip products. 
Bite Beauty is a Canadian cosmetics company specializing in lip products. Founded by Suzanne Langmuir in 2011, launched in 2012, and acquired by Kendo in 2014. The brand is carried exclusively at Sephora and on their website. Bite was founded on a simple premise: what you put on your lips should be as good as what you put in your mouth. They created their own lab to develop products with natural and organic ingredients that also have luxurious textures and big-pigment color. They have lipsticks, liquid lipsticks, lip pencils, lip crayons, lip gloss, lip masks, lip scrubs and lip balm. 

All Bite's products are made with food-grade ingredients. These natural ingredients provide creamy, long lasting hydration that nourish and revitalize lips. These 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.




January 06, 2019

Babo Botanicals

I decided to try a new shampoo and conditioner from Babo Botanicals. I haven't heard of this company but I found them on the EWG website. I went with the Berry Primrose Smoothing Shampoo & Wash and the Berry Primrose Smoothing Conditioner. I'm obsessed. I honestly don't think I will ever use another brand of shampoo & conditioner ever again.

First, let's start with the scent. It smells so good. I can't get over it. I get whiffs of it throughout the day and love it. As i said, I got the Berry Primrose but they have a few other scents as well. They have Oatmilk & Calendula Shampoo, Lavender & Meadowsweet Shampoo, Cucumber & Aloe Vera Swim and Sport Shampoo, a Lice Shampoo and a Fragrance Free Shampoo. I can't wait to try the lavender one.

Second, let's talk about how soft it makes my hair. It's loaded with evening primrose oil, shea butter and cocoa butter which smoothes and softens the hair. It's also enriched with Babo's Nutri-Soothe Complex, rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants. My hair has never felt so soft.

Lastly, it's free of all the bad stuff. It does not contain SLS, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicone, synthetic fragrance, dyes, sodium chloride, formaldehyde, mineral oil, MEA, DEA and TEA. This amazing formula does contain tree nuts, coconut and shea butter. Babo Botanicals is a Certified B Corp, Cruelty Free, and Vegan Friendly.

I highly recommend Babo Botanical products. The founder, Kate, originally started the line for babies and children. In fact, she named the company after her son's security bunny, Babo. Kate graduated from Harvard, joined the Peace Corps, then landed a job as a skincare product developer. She worked for L'Oréal, LVMH, Avon and Redken. When she got pregnant with her first child, she went searching for safe, natural products for her new baby. Her entrepreneurial spirit kicked in and Babo Botanicals began. The products perform so well, they are perfect for babies, children, teenagers and adults.

             






January 01, 2019

Top 5 New Year Skin Care Resolutions

1. Ditch your lotion and use oil - Don't be afraid of oil, it's the best thing I ever did for my skin. Lotions are filled with toxins like parabens, fragrance, petrochemicals, alcohol, and oil emulsified in water. The only ingredient in lotion that provides any moisture to the skin is the oil. One of the basic principals of chemistry is like dissolves like. If you have oily skin, you should be using oil. Plant oils are excellent for all skin types. They are very similar to the oil our skin naturally produces (sebum) so they are easily absorbed into the skin, don't clog pores and promotes skin cell function. Some of my favorite oils are avocado oil, apricot oil, marula oil, grapeseed oil, argan oil, jojoba oil and rosehip oil. You can use these alone or make your own oil mixture. Just get a glass dropper bottle, choose your plant oil, add some vitamin E oil and add a few drops of essential oil. Lavender, cedarwood, lemon and frankincense are a few . If you don't have the patience to make one, grab one of these Acure Marula OilEO Argan Oil, or Dessert Essence Oil

2. Wash your face every night - Never go to bed with makeup on. Makeup can trap dirt and environmental pollutants inside the skin which results in premature aging. Sleeping in makeup also clogs your pores which leads to acne. Lastly, it interferes with the natural shedding process of the skin which results in duller, drier complexion. Get a good chemical free face wash like these, Acure Cleansing Stick and Acure Brightening Cleansing Gel

3. Get a chemical free shampoo - a good chemical free shampoo can be life changing. Ingredients in shampoo contain lots of chemicals. These chemicals can cause flaky skin, persistent itching & irritation, asthma, sinusitis, allergies and even cancer. They strip moisture and natural oils from our hair causing rashes, hair loss and dandruff. Invest in a chemical free option like one of these, Babo Botanicals and Avalon Organics

4. Moisturize after showering - keep a body oil right in the shower. Warm water strips our skin of natural oil and we need to replenish. Apply the oil right after you shower while your skin is still damp. Try one of these, EO Body Oil and Shea Moisture Body Oil

5. Make Vitamin C your new best friend - Vitamin C is not only necessary for collagen production and maintenance, but it is also a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals in the skinEnvironmental aggressors such as UV rays and pollution create free radicals that cause premature signs of visible aging. Vitamin C creates a brighter complexion, evens out skin tone and diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It improves hydration and keeps your skin looking younger. I use both of these every day Avalon Organics Vitamin C Serum and Avalon Organics Vitamin C Antioxidant Oil.