Complete with Vignette: Culprit #1

Cherry Choco Chip!

No, ice cream is not the culprit (well, maybe in another sense it is. But not here!).

The culprit to which I refer is an unlikely one. It is a ruthless product on the market, out to seduce the public with its delightful scents and quilted textures. It is widely used, but rarely critiqued. Readily available in stores, but seldom complete with fragrance information. It may very well be tucked away in your laundry nook at home, ready to strike once again.

It is...

DUM DUM DUMMM...

dryer sheets.

Yes, the seemingly innocuous dryer sheet is not as innocent as it might first appear. Remember how the word "fragrance" is relatively unregulated in the market? Our well-loved dryer sheets are no exception.

What makes dryer sheets of particular concern is that they deposit fragrance chemicals directly onto fabrics, which then lie directly against your skin (possibly all over your body, depending on your attire) for hours on end. And because dryer sheets are intended to leave clothes smelling flowery fresh for many hours, these chemicals may be of particular strength and longevity. Some dryer sheets can be contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals and hormone disruptors. This can cause irritation for sensitive skin and other problems, particularly over the long-term.

So what's a consumer to do?

I would recommend one of two things:

Option #1: Skip the dryer sheets altogether. This is my preference, and I feel secure knowing that my body isn't in long-term contact with unknown "fragrances."

Option #2: Try an all-natural brand of dryer sheets. These usually contain no harsh chemicals, do contain LABELED fragrance if desired (usually from much safer essential oils), and are biodegradable. Check out Mountain Green (~$7, mountaingreen.biz) and Seventh Generation (~$5, seventhgeneration.com).

Leave comments below! Do you use dryer sheets?

Review: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip Gloss

*note: 100% Pure has NOT paid me OR sent me any products for free. I am in no way sponsored by 100% Pure or any of its affiliates for this review. I purchased these products myself. This is my sole opinion and experience with these products, and everyone's experience may differ.*

Two years ago, I started looking for a lip gloss line that would give me great color impact with none of the nasty chemicals, and I have found that line! I discovered 100% Pure lip glosses two years ago, and have loved them ever since.

Left: Popsicle  Right: Sheer Strawberry

I love these lip glosses for their color range. This line features bright pops of coral and pink, as well as deeper reds, mauves, and sparkly light beiges. I have these glosses in Popsicle, a light and bright coral pink, and in Sheer Strawberry, a very sheer, true pink.

Above: Sheer Strawberry  Below: Popsicle

It is hard to see the difference between the two colors from my camera shot, but the two are quite different. Sheer Strawberry is darker (but wears very sheer) and a bit cooler in tone, while Popsicle is warmer and more of a coral than a pink.

These glosses are a bit sticky, but sticky lip gloss equals more staying power. They usually stay on for about 4 hours for me. They actually have a nice velvety texture to them as well, so the stickiness is by no means overwhelming or bothersome for me. They layer beautifully over lipstick, adding a hint of color and plenty of shine. They can also be worn alone. I like wearing Sheer Strawberry with a bit of lip liner on makeup-lite days.

These products have absolutely no artificial flavors, scents, preservatives, fillers, or any other harmful chemicals. I like that the base is Tocopherol (Vitamin E)-- there is a difference between Tocopherol and Tocopheryl Acetate (a resin of Vitamin E), and I prefer to have the real thing. As advertised, these products are indeed tinted with fruits, so no scary chemical colors either!

They are about $13 each, but they last a LONG TIME. You can purchase these glosses at the 100% Pure website, as well as at the company boutiques in California.

All About Olive Oil

Olive oil is one of my favorite beauty ingredients. A highly versatile product, it has powerful antioxident properties, will not clog pores, and is highly moisturizing. Better yet, it works well with most skin types and is available at supermarkets and specialty food shops everywhere!

Olive oil is well-known as a cooking ingredient in many Mediterranean cuisines. It is believed by many people that ancient Mediterranean cultures understood pure olive oil as a skin care product as well! Women have used olive oil directly as a moisturizer in a variety of more recent contexts, and in recent years, natural lifestyle communities have re-appropriated olive oil as a popular ingredient for skin care and natural health regimens.

I personally do not have a preference as to which type of olive oil I use for skin care-- my current favorite is plain, cold-pressed olive oil. Some people prefer Extra-Virgin, but I have found regular, cold-pressed olive oil to be perfectly useful for me. I use it in a body scrub (recipe to be posted soon!), and it can be used in lotions, aromatherapy products, and sprays. Many people enjoy massaging a small amount directly onto the skin as an all-natural overnight moisturizer. If you have very sensitive and oily skin (like I do), I would recommend sticking to olive oil as a body product, not as a face product-- it is a very intensive moisturizer, and might be a bit much for very oily skin.

A word of caution-- there have been concerns of late around adulterated olive oil in the marketplace. Be sure to check the prices of your olive oil (a quality olive oil should cost a bit more than other household ingredients-- but a little goes a long way!), and go with an established or boutique olive oil company.

In any case, don't write off olive oil as only good for cooking. It's great to have around for all sorts of beauty and skin care purposes!

Welcome, and Intro!

Hi beauty buffs!

Now you all know what I look like sans-makeup. How ironic for a beauty blogger, right?

First, a bit about me. I have been a bit obsessed with makeup since the ripe old age of 11. In fact, in middle and high school, I was known by my peers to have a serious problem with makeup. Like many, I first found out about makeup through my mother. Her collection of blushers, lipsticks, and perfumes fascinated me. When I took it upon myself to run an internet search on products, I discovered an entire world devoted to the art of makeup. I learned that there is actual technique involved (what a thought!), and that there are career fields devoted to applying, developing, and teaching about makeup and its artistry. I read up on all the new products, and even read makeup artistry and technique books. I was hooked.

Then I discovered these things called chemicals.

My first year of college, I decided to try out a scented detergent. Later that week, I happened upon an article regarding the (un)regulation of fragrances in personal and home care products. I was freaked! I had had no idea that the word "fragrance" was relatively unregulated in the marketplace, and could refer to a variety of chemicals (many of which could be carcinogenic). Furthermore, not only can fragrances be problematic, but so can my beloved makeup products! The FDA does not regulate the cosmetic industry's product safety, leaving the industry itself primarily responsible for the safety of consumer products. In a perfect world, I thought the populace at large would make certain of oversight for cosmetics safety, but I realized this was not a reality. In the meantime, it was basically up to me to make sure I wasn't smearing scary chemicals onto my skin. I decided to take charge of the situation. My new penchant for natural and organic beauty was born!

However, one roadblock kept cropping up in my natural product journey... products can be expensive!!! After many web searches and research extravaganzas,  I have figured out some affordable ways of participating in natural beauty cultures. I decided to start this blog to share what I've learned about easy, CHEAP, and fun natural beauty lifestyles. I will be publishing skin care recipes made with ingredients right from your kitchen, reviews and tips on organic and natural beauty and home products, and info on the legacy of natural beauty ingredients in world history. I am also blogging to continue learning about natural and organic beauty. So comments and constructive feedback are always much appreciated!

And, my favorite food EVER is ice cream! I am a big believer that everything in my life is better when I'm eating choco chip cookie dough deliciousness. So stay tuned for random pictures of dairy (and/or non-dairy/soy, depending on the day) delight alongside my beauty posts!