Could You Be Chemical Free?

by Editor on May 19, 2009

by Stacey Richardson

As a writer who specializes in the fashion and beauty sector, I come across a lot of information in my research that I’d rather not know, especially when it comes to cosmetic and beauty products. You see, I LOVE all things beauty-related- makeup, bath and body products, hair products- the works! I also have an obsession with perfume, so when I landed a job as a perfume writer and reviewer for an online fragrance company I was in heaven. That was, until I had to do an article on the ingredients in perfume and scented beauty products in general. I knew that perfumed things couldn’t be great for you, but how toxic some products actually were astounded me, especially children’s toiletries.

perfume-bottles

I don’t know how trusted names such as Johnson& Johnson and Huggies can market products like baby bath as “natural” and “for sensitive skin” when it is full of toxic chemicals, but apparently they (and hundreds of other brands) can. If we don’t do the research and buy based on a ‘trusted’ name, we really may be doing more harm than good. From hairspray to bubble bath, there are some really terrible products out there that millions of people use every day without realizing that there are better options.

Thankfully, there is a valuable website that rates thousands of products for their toxicity levels- the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. This is a great place to look up virtually any cosmetic product and see how it fares on a scale of 1-10 in toxicity levels. It’s a great way to see what brands really are the most gentle, and which are not. And if you are a perfume lover like me, be forewarned that virtually all commercial fragrances are at a 10!!

After visiting this site I’ve ditched ALOT of products that I once thought were safe. We only use natural castile soap at home now- no more scented shower gels or liquid soaps, and I’ve dumped the hair treatments for homemade recipes instead. Not only am I saving money and having fun trying out natural substitutes, but I feel so much better that my family and I are on our way to using safer products. I know that in this day it is impossible to be completely chemical-free, but the more we can reduce harmful products, the better- for ourselves, our families and the Earth. And while I do feel better about switching to gentler beauty products, this fragrance fiend may find some things a bit harder to give up- like my bottle of Alien perfume that I adore!

I don’t know if I could ever be completely chemical-free, because unfortunately they can show up anywhere from food to laundry detergent, but I do know that safer, greener products are becoming a welcomed trend in the beauty industry and one that I will be following closely and writing about more in the future.

To read more about the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and how to choose safer products click here.

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Make Your Eyes Pop with Eyelash Extensions

by Editor on May 15, 2009

Permanent eyelash extensions are much more versatile than traditional false lashes. 

Permanent eyelash extensions differ from false eyelashes in several ways. First, eyelash extensions are more natural looking than a strip of false eyelashes. Extensions are made from a synthetic hair, which tapers at the end like natural lashes and is applied one eyelash at a time and they add length to the lashes, much like hair extensions. Eyelash extensions are permanent, but they do need to be reapplied in a touch up, every two weeks, as your real lashes fall out naturally every 10 – 12 days. 

 

Image courtesy of Novalash.com

Image courtesy of Novalash.com

 

There are several benefits to permanent eyelash extensions. They look natural and give you fuller, thicker lashes. You can choose the length and the color of the lashes you want. Mascara is not needed, and neither is expensive eye makeup remover to dissolve the mascara. Since the lashes are permanent, they last through tears, sweat, showering, sleeping, and the sun. 

The application process is relatively simple and needs to be done by a qualified beautician. The beautician will clean your eyelids and lashes, ensuring they are free of oil, makeup, and dirt. She will then put a special adhesive on the bottom of an extension and adhere it to the top of your natural lash. The extension will bond to the lash in about 10 seconds. This is done one lash at a time, with tweezers, so it will be time consuming. On average, about 30 to 80 lashes are used per eye, and the procedure can take around 2 hours. Afterwards, you will need to avoid water for about 2 hours, but then the lashes are permanent and can be enjoyed through any activity, even swimming!

Prices can be pretty high for this procedure, averaging around $300 for a first time application.

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Banish the Airbrush

April 16, 2009

by Stacey Richardson Are you fed up of the media’s obsession with “sexy post-baby bodies” and the race to shed as much baby weight as fast as possible? Tired of seeing every major magazine with a story on how celebrities stay slim and flawless, even though cosmetic surgery is commonly behind their amazing figures? You [...]

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