Today’s post might have you jumping to clean out your bathroom cabinet.
Don’t go throwing out ALL of your beauty products…
I’m usually good about reading product labels but after hearing about this new app I went home and read the labels on everything I used in a semi-state of panic – but before you toss anything, download this app, Think Dirty.
From lead-filled lipsticks to carcinogenic moisturizers, this app aims to help you find out what toxic chemicals you might be exposing yourself to on a daily basis through cosmetics and personal care products.
US health research and advocacy group Environmental Working Group (EWG) says that women are exposed to about 168 chemicals in beauty products each day. In 2004, the EWG launched its Skin Deep database, which lists potentially hazardous ingredients in some 78,000 products available in the US.
Think Dirty launched recently as a free iPhone app that also allows barcode scanning to find products, with ratings drawn from nonprofits like EWG, along with publicly available government databases in Canada, the US, and Europe. So far, the app contains a database of more than 12,000 cosmetic products.
The app allows you to scan the barcodes of your beauty and personal care products to get a breakdown of the ingredients and how they impact your health. The app also suggests other “cleaner” products to replace items you have that get a dirty rating.
Now the group plans to launch a new app, named Skin Deep, this autumn for both iOS and Android devices.
If you need me, I’ll be at Sephora…scanning…everything
In the meantime, check out the clean 100% mineral beauty products at MicaBeauty. Available at: http://www.IntrigueImports.com
*(I first heard about this in Alex’s post for Garance Doré)
Keeping up with the Customers! Nordstrom Inc. is giving its beauty departments a fresher, more contemporary look designed to give customers more individualized ways to shop.
photo: Stefanie Keenan
This is good news because what I don’t like about buying cosmetics at most department stores is 1) the hard sale 2) feeling that the sales girl (who works on commission) from the line that you just wasted an hour of her time talking about is watching you go from one counter to the next to check out the competitors. 3) too many other distractions in a department store – stuff like shoes, clothing & accessories. Usually I tend to gravitate towards the smaller independent boutiques for most things in general. But this might make me change my mind for a time or two.
Unveiled at stores in the California shopping centers (The Americana at Brand in Glendale and The Sh20ops at Mission Viejo) and expanding to a total of nine stores by January, the most dramatic modifications are to color cosmetics areas, where customers are encouraged to shop how they want, whether it is on their own by opening drawers brimming with makeup or with guidance from staff dedicated to specific brands. Nordstrom is also simplifying beauty shopping by breaking down its vast selection by trend and key product no matter what brand, and offering shoppers access to beauty concierges, trial sizes and applications, consultations and other services so they can more fully experience the products.
lengthen, volumize, curl + define. I want ALL 3 in 1! photo: Stefanie Keenan
The refreshed approach recognizes that the traditional behind-the-counter model of selling beauty products doesn’t work for everyone. Acknowledging Sephora and e-commerce have impacted shopping for beauty products, Pete Nordstrom, president of merchandising for Nordstrom, said, “The best ingredient to success is to be reflective of what the customers are interested in. Customers evolve and change over time, not only in regards to the product, but how they like to be served. In the beauty segment, there is an opportunity to serve the customer in a different and a better way. We have to allow our stores to be able to evolve to be able to appeal to customers, not just to legacy customers, but to our new customers.”
There are several constants this time of year—the desire to be wrapped in cashmere 24/7, stay in bed just a little longer every morning and find the perfect makeup palette.
M.A.C Cosmetics Stroke of Midnight Face Palette in Cool, $49.50
When was the last time you actually used every eye, lip or cheek shade included in a makeup kit? If you’re like me, the answer is never. Usually something is left out or some of the colors don’t suit you. You use it a few times and then it’s never to be seen again. Now, according to Harper’s Bazaar M.A.C has come out with a real beauty must-have:
An all-in-one makeup palette that you’ll use every last bit of.
Product Review: The new edition by M.A.C Cosmetics, seen here in cool, sultry tones (there’s a version with warmer, pink-based shades, too), is a one-stop-shop for fixing your face at home or on-the-go. Because, really, why must you choose between lugging your entire arsenal of products and compromising the integrity of touchups before jetting to dinner? Use the light iridescent pressed powder to revive dull skin; create a natural or highly pigmented mouth with a combo of the mauve and plum lipsticks; give eyes subtle—or intense—definition with the blue-grey and deep plum shadows as well as a hefty dose of the true kohl black pencil.
Okay, like I mentioned you can never find a palette that includes ‘everything’ but you will make use of whatever is in this one (minus the blush) as the shades are universally flattering to all skin tones. Bonus: it’s easy to fit into your purse.
Welcome Companions Toast Shoulder Bag, $560; welcomecompanions.comTrina Turk Mirage IceBucket, $58; trinaturk.comCalypso Mini Serving Board Set, $115; calypsostbarth.com
For the Beauty Obsessed:
Mica Beauty – eyes that sparkle plenty: made of 100% natural Mica. These shimmers (100 in total) are so pure that they will not irritate even the most sensitive eyes. http://www.IntrigueImports.comAn exotic Oil & Essence for your face http://www.GetSpoiledNow.com
Adidas by Stella McCartney Dance Leopard-Print Sneakers, $130; net-a-porter.comDragon APX Snow Goggles, $220; rei.comMargarita Active Wear – flatteringly made for movement http://IntrigueImports.com
Literally….with Tarte’s LipSurgence™ collection. What is it? A hybrid between a stain, a gloss and a rich balm, these non drying lip tints deliver sheer color while keeping lips hydrated and refreshed. Best thing – the award-winning tint is goofproof. That’s because they go on like a lip gloss, stay on like a stain and hydrate like a dreamy balm. Added bonus: no pencil sharpener required. What’s not to love?
With Bite Lip Lab it’s pretty easy to find your perfect lipstick match.
Facing up: Lipstick is a pretty important (possibly ‘the’ most important) part to perfecting our makeup look. Otherwise we wouldn’t be Eating on average 4-7 Pounds of Lipstick in our Lifetimes – would we?
It can’t be all too healthy but we do it anyway – because we’re rather lipstick obsessed.
How many times have you come across that ‘perfect’ color and then the next time you go to buy it the company has decided to suddenly discontinued it. And you have to wonder – were you the only person buying it? This can be very upsetting – as many colors as there are it’s not that easy trying to find a great shade to suit us. So don’t throw away your last tube just yet.
You can take in an old or discontinued lipstick toBite Lip Lap & have them re-create it for you. They can make a custom made lipstick using a magic lipstick machine in just 7 minutes – which involves melting down the different bullets of lipstick (they look like chocolate truffles!), adding a scent (like cherry, violet, peppermint, or superfruit), pouring the mix into lipstick molds and allowing the formula to harden on a cold plate. It’s as simple at that! Then all you have to do is buy two. Looking for the perfect red for a night out? How incredible is that?
Bite Beauty Lip Lab, 174 Prince Street, at Thompson Street (646-484-6111)
You can always stop by in between visits to museums & art galleries but to some, this alone might be worth the visit to New York.
IN THE RED:
A 2012 study found that waitresses who wore lipstick got higher tips from men, and scientific research from 2010 found that women wearing red lipstick received the “most prolonged gazes” from men. And yet we’ve know plenty of guys who say they simply hate the stuff. We can’t please everyone.
Designer Bill Blass once said : “When in Doubt Wear Red.” What exactly did he mean?
‘Red lipstick is a source of strength,’ says Poppy King, creator of Lipstick Queen. ‘You put it on and suddenly you feel more capable than you did without it.’
Consider Jean Harlow’s pointed red pout in the 1930s, Veronika Lake’s in the 1940s and Marilyn Monroe’s in the 1950s. None of these actresses was known for playing the girlish ingénue. They were women with overtly feminine power. They were knowing.
The lure of looking feminine but remaining powerful was such a glorious notion, it’s little wonder women started to use red lipstick as a tool to communicate their own self-possession.
The thing about red lipstick – it’s a beautiful case of chicken and egg. It may require confidence to wear, but confidence can actually be a result of putting on red lipstick – and no one needs to know which comes first.
The Japanese are known for being steps ahead when it comes to technology and trends, and the same goes for their skin care. Japanese skin care products are some of the best in the world.
Many of the products are not easily found here in North America. Of course we already know about Shiseido, Shu Uemura (we swear by their eyelash curler) & Clé de Peau (the Concealer is a perennial makeup artist favorite).
A friend recently returned from a trip to Japan and brought me this little bag containing *rice bran extract which is used to hydrate and tone skin. It’s from a store called “Yojiya” in Kyoto (the area where I once followed Geishas). The Japanese name is Nukabukuroand it’s a face/body wash in a small cotton bag with an excellent cleansing & moisturizing effect when you massage your skin with it. The rice bran extract is filtered through the cotton bag which gradually moisturizes your skin while the gentle massaging effect of the cotton fiber helps to tone your skin texture. First you must run the bag under warm water until it fully absorbs and you keep using it until it’s all gone. *Rice Bran Extract is a natural botanical rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Also, the best blotting papers ever – of course, the Japanese invented them. Centuries ago, in the early 1600’s, the women and men in Japan discovered the benefits of oil blotting paper for keeping their complexions smooth, flawless and oil free. An essential item to keep in my handbag.
Beauty editors are particularly choosy about what products they spend money on. After all they get a lot of freebies, however they do admit – why splurge on a pricey eyeliner when there’s a $1 one that does the trick?
image from totalbeauty
Something to consider especially since we tend to spend a lot of $$$ on products. If you are going to shell out the big bucks, do it on something that benefits your skin — like an ultra moisturizing lipstick or an anti-aging cream and/or serum. But trendy, wear-once-in-a-while colors & some other face/body/hair care products? Those are your cheap thrills. Here are some to consider from Allure “best of beauty”
These 15 products belie their rock-bottom price tags (all are $10 or less) beautifully. Available at most drugstores in the U.S.
MAKEUP
NYC New York Color Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer, $3.99. The Spanx of primers: It firms, evens, and is so lightweight you won’t even notice that you’re wearing it.
Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Powder, $3.99. Swirled together, the ribbons create a rose-gold blush; used individually (wet or dry), they make lids glisten too.
WednWild Illuminating PowderNYC Bronzer
NYX Matte Bronzer, $9. Shimmer-free and available in five sun-kissed shades, the powder makes it easy for every woman to have a believable bronze. The extra-large pan means you can keep the charade going year-round.
Mark “just pinched” instant blush tint in Berry, $8.
mark just pinched
This cool raspberry sinks into skin for that proverbial glow, and doesn’t go MIA like so many cream blushes.
Rimmel eye palette
Rimmel London Glam’Eyes HD Quad Eye Shadow in Black Cab, $5.99. Blended together, the four shades strike the ideal balance of sparkle and soot for sexy smoky eyes. Use as liner too.
L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Mascara – A unique formula of panthenol and ceramide-R builds and thickens voluptuous lashes while conditioning them, so they remain supple and healthy. An exceptionally plush brush is designed to glide on just the right amount of mascara without clumping or flaking. Non-irritating, fragrance-free formula is safe for sensitive eyes and contact wearers. Price: About $6 USD / $8 CDN. Overall: A great everyday mascara! Super black, holds a curl but just not as waterproof as expected.
vaseline cocoa butter lip
Vaseline Lip Therapy in Cocoa Butter. So rich and effective, a pot slightly bigger than a Tootsie Roll is all you need to keep lips, cuticles, and even elbows smooth this winter.
SKIN
Pond’s Luminous Clean Daily Exfoliating Cleanser. So many all-in-ones fail to do much of anything. This mix of kaolin, microbeads, and shea butter smooths and soothes as well as three separate products.
neutragena
Neutrogena Make Up Remover Cleansing Towelettes. These alcohol-free wipes erase the smudgy signs of a late night faster than it takes to chug a glass of water. Keep them on your bedside table.
Ambi Skincare Fade Cream. This hardworking cream plays offense (breaking up dark spots with 2 percent hydroquinone) and defense (protecting with
AMBI
sunscreen).
HAIR
aussie
Aussie Moist 3 Minute Miracle Condition. Reforms the most overprocessed hair yet won’t overwhelm fine and frizzy types.
NAILS
maybelline nails
Maybelline New York Color Show Nail Lacquer (shown here in Keep Up the Flame). Mint green, canary yellow, silver-flecked navy—there are certain trendy polish shades you want to play with before committing. At this price, you easily can do both.
BODY
Jergens Crema Hydrating Coconut Milk. So deliciously tropical, we half expect this vitamin-E-enriched moisturizer to be packaged in a hollowed-out coconut.
St. Ives Naturally Smooth Hand Cream, $2.99. This heavy-duty hydrator absorbs in seconds, so it leaves our hands (and iPad screens) grease-free. And it has just the faintest floral-citrus fragrance.
Aveeno Active Naturals Hydrosport Sunblock Spray SPF 30.A beach-bag essential: The clear spray clings to even soaking wet skin while the potent broad-spectrum sun protection swims laps around similarly priced sunblocks.
GLAM up & Away at airports – with the benefit Pink Bus kiosk. If you can buy cupcakes and tacos on the go, why not satisfy your hunger for makeup!? That’s exactly what the company thought.
Have you ever been to the tiny Benefit flagship store in Mill Valley, California? It’s so cute, mostly pink, very inviting & attention grabbing (as most of their product line is) at the same time – I dare you to walk by without stopping in. Then you’ll come out with at least two products in your bag that you can’t wait to try on. They’re one of the most fun cosmetic lines out there with many excellent products. Let’s narrow a few down because Winter is almost upon us and our skin tends to get dull and dry. We need a pick me up in the complexion department. Granted, these 3 products do “almost” the same thing with a slight twist so you really don’t need all three – maybe just one or two. Okay all three!
Highlighting the “HALL OF FAME” Highlighters
watt’s up!
soft focus highlighter for face – Why we love it!
The soft focus highlighter turns “watt” ya got with a delicate champagne glow that’s gorgeous. With a cream-to-powder finish…it’s a switch on “wow” for all complexions. You’ll adore the smooth applicator & luminous sheen.
Who else loves it!
2011 Real Beauty Gold Star Award, Best Makeup Products from 2011
How to apply
Glide on cheek & brow bones…then sculpt with its soft glow blender for YOUR perfect gleam. Can be applied solo or over existing makeup.
high brow
a brow lifting pencil – Why we love it!
This soft brow highlighting pencil is your instant brow lift! Perfect for all skin tones, the linen-pink highlight hue adds a lifted look to the entire eye area. It’s never been easier to raise a brow…or two!
How to apply
Apply pencil under your brow following the arch. Lightly blend.
high beam
luminescent complexion enhancer – Why we love it!
This satiny pink liquid highlighter accents cheek & brow bones for a dewy, radiant glow. Use as a spot highlighter over makeup or wear under complexion products for subtle luminescence. It’s the “supermodel in a bottle!”
Who else loves it!
2012 TotalBeauty.com Awards, readers’ choice for best highlighter
How to apply
Dot and blend over makeup on to cheek and brow bones, or anywhere you want a glance to linger.
Available at Sephora & most major department stores.
*NEW – Glam Up & Away: with vintage pink bus beauty kiosks coming to airports across the U.S.
Whoever said you can’t get your Benefit faves on the go clearly had never met a woman in 2013! Taken from their blog:
Think back to your last 4-hour flight… you arrived at your destination wearing workout pants, hair in a messy bun, and skin feeling dry & lifeless. Let’s face it, you were more Page Six tragic than celebrity jet-setting status.
This post comes a bit after the fact because unless you’ve been living under a rock (or you’re a man) you might still be confused over which of the supposedly one-step wonder BEAUTY BALMS really works.
Never mind the new crop of “CC” creams which claims to offer color & correction to boot – we’ll get to them another time. I haven’t even finished sampling the multitudes of BB creams yet, so give me another year & hopefully by that time they will not have introduced a ‘DD’ cream too. After all, how much can one tube really offer? Unless you’re 12 years old or have a perfectly perfect complexion my opinion is that none will put the beauty company face primers, powders or foundations out of business anytime soon. In the meantime they will help cover up a few skin concerns.
Here’s what the buzz is all about:
The “it” beauty product has everyone from MAC to Maybelline adding one to their line – nobody wants to miss out. But why all the fuss over these quirky named creams? Two words – quick and easy. A BB cream works as a moisturizer, foundation, and sunscreen all in one. Yes, that’s right! A good one will do all that. They deliver the lightweight feel of a tinted moisturizer with the complexion-evening powers of a foundation and help to conceal oiliness. These creams might be new to us but they actually originated in Germany in the 60’s and then became a Korean phenomenon. There, women used BBs to give their skin a smooth, porcelain-like quality. However those formulas were too heavy and their shade range too limiting for North American women, so they were slightly re-worked for the U.S./Cdn market, with an emphasis on sheerness, shade variety & SPF.
They are regarded as an ultimate multi-tasker. For now, the bounty of BBs out there means lots of options, but subtleties of formulations can be the difference between a product that’s your new skin saviour and just another tube hogging space on your bathroom shelf.
So to help, here are a few recommended for different skin types:
Combination – Garnier Skin Renew BB Miracle Skin Perfector (SPF 15) is an all-in-one skin care that hydrates, corrects imperfections, protects, evens and brightens skin tone. It offers anti-shine, minimizes pores & evens skin tone. Comes in 2 shades, light/medium, and medium/dark. For the price you can’t beat this one.
Sensitive – Clinique Age Defense BB cream (SPF 30) with skin calming ingredients like caffeine and a licorice extract to help minimize redness and inflammation. If you’re susceptible to rosacea it could be your salve-ation.
Oily – Smashbox camera ready (SFP 35) contains silica which helps absorb oil throughout the day. It has a cream-to-powder finish which creates a beautiful soft-focus effect.
Mature – Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB (SPF 40) contains ceramides & glycerine to keep complexion hydrated through the day. It contains peptides to help promote collagen production. **Side note: I tried this one & honestly as nice as it was, the Garnier (with less SPF – but good for winter) & less money worked out just as well for me.
Young (I also refer to this category as ‘Normal’) – Maybelline Dream Fresh BB (SPF 30) is more of a gel than cream. It has subtle coverage but is also oil-free, making it excellent for teens and 20-somethings prone to blemishes.
Dark Skin – IMAN Cosmetics Skin Tone Evener BB (SPF 15) has a luminous quality which keeps complexions from looking ashy. Because dark skin is prone to hyper-pigmentation, this cream packs ascorbic acid, which improves texture, and licorice-root extracts to suppress melanin production.
Dry Skin – Estee Lauder Day Wear Antioxidant BB (SPF 35) is a combo of intense hydrators which keep complexion from flaking. Contains hyaluronic acid to draw water to skin and glycerine to prevent moisture from escaping. It’s featherweight & soothing. Comes in 2 shades so you may need to layer on something else over it.
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