EWG was sounding the horn yesterday that Revlon is bending under consumer and activist pressure to remove certain yuckiness from its products (but only some). Read EWG's press release here.
It's pretty big news, no? Like, huge global cosmetics brand is finally getting with the times and cleaning up their act...
Except that Revlon doesn't seem to care as much as the rest of us. EWG's press release includes a link to this page -- basically a corporate ingredients directory, which was most likely produced to deflect heat about the toxic goop we're applying to our faces -- in reference to the Revlon's announcement. But there's no actual announcement...
Nothing under Investor Relations, where all of Revlon's corporate-level press releases live. Nothing picked up just yet by any news outlets, Internet or otherwise. So is Revlon even considering this news-worthy?
If actions speak louder than words, the presence of this line from the Revlon Ingredients page says it all:
"Note, that some of these ingredients have been sensationalized by reports in the press or on the internet as having potential safety concerns. "
Sensationalized. As in, you tree-hugger consumer activist folks are blowing things out of proportion. Stop making things up. Stop pretending that your cancer is anyone else's fault besides your own (I actually read some bonehead comment on FB the other day that cancer patients obviously have bad genes. Major face palm).
Here's another reason why I don't get the sense that playing nice with the likes of EWG is a priority for Revlon. It's holiday season. Year-end. Is anyone even doing any actual work at work still? Unless you're Stephen Colbert or the makers of Serial, this is probably the slowest news week of the year. That is, until next week.
So there is no news going anywhere about anything right now. If Revlon gave two hoots about announcing plans to eliminate some toxic ingredients, don't you think they'd do it in a way that maximizes the end benefit to the company?
EWG had to have gotten permission to issue its own release about Revlon, and I'm guessing the only way it happened was for Revlon to dictate the terms. Like, we're not highlighting this ourselves. No quotes or interviews. No nothing about anything. Never happened.
This of course is complete speculation. But a company as big as Revlon does nothing that's not deliberate, carefully thought out. And if this is their PR game, it could use a little pick-me-up.
Yours in health,
Jazzy
Showing posts with label Cosmetics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cosmetics. Show all posts
Friday, December 19, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Live chat with Beautycounter
Happy belated Indigenous Peoples Day!
I was on the fence about promoting this live FB chat that the Breast Cancer Fund is hosting with cosmetic company Beautycounter today at 1:00 pm EST. I think you can find it here. Not only am I not the end-all be-all expert on trusted sources for information, but it was a completely new company to me. Serious stranger danger.
But then I decided that there really aren't all that many opportunities for an open dialogue about toxic chemicals in consumer products. I think we can realistically expect a hard sell by Beautycounter, the heavy push to buy their products. But I also think we can gain something as consumers not to just listen but to have the chance to speak.
By that I mean speaking up about our concerns about chemical exposure in the products we use. Speaking out against manufacturers and retailers who put profit, and not their customers, first. After all, change doesn't occur in a vacuum of silence and complacence.
Beautycounter benefits greatly from their partnership with EWG and the Breast Cancer Fund. Street cred, if you will. I want to dig in a little and see what they're about. I'll admit, I am curious, not just for the purposes of the blog, but for the hopeful notion that someone out there gets it.
Me, I can't make the chat tomorrow. Can you make time for it? Maybe BCF will post highlights or something. If you do participate, let me know how it was! In the meantime, I will see what I can unearth about Beautycounter to share with you.
Cautiously yours,
Jazzy
I was on the fence about promoting this live FB chat that the Breast Cancer Fund is hosting with cosmetic company Beautycounter today at 1:00 pm EST. I think you can find it here. Not only am I not the end-all be-all expert on trusted sources for information, but it was a completely new company to me. Serious stranger danger.
But then I decided that there really aren't all that many opportunities for an open dialogue about toxic chemicals in consumer products. I think we can realistically expect a hard sell by Beautycounter, the heavy push to buy their products. But I also think we can gain something as consumers not to just listen but to have the chance to speak.
By that I mean speaking up about our concerns about chemical exposure in the products we use. Speaking out against manufacturers and retailers who put profit, and not their customers, first. After all, change doesn't occur in a vacuum of silence and complacence.
Beautycounter benefits greatly from their partnership with EWG and the Breast Cancer Fund. Street cred, if you will. I want to dig in a little and see what they're about. I'll admit, I am curious, not just for the purposes of the blog, but for the hopeful notion that someone out there gets it.
Me, I can't make the chat tomorrow. Can you make time for it? Maybe BCF will post highlights or something. If you do participate, let me know how it was! In the meantime, I will see what I can unearth about Beautycounter to share with you.
Cautiously yours,
Jazzy
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Olay Stories
Have you seen Olay's latest campaign? #OlayStories. Olay's put the whole thing on Pinterest, of all places. I am loathe to keep shining a spotlight on companies/ads/products that are misleading and borderline dishonest, but I suppose we have to do that to find the man behind the curtain.
Olay is playing up big time the 'everywoman beauty' as it has for a few years now. Great. But the new campaign takes it up a notch by featuring, as its first "Best Beautiful" story, skin cancer survivor Hillary. Her personal story, along with professionally-shot video and portraits, are the launchpad of this campaign.
On its face, I don't disagree with it. I am thrilled to see a company buck the trend of using one version of today's woman as the only version. But that's pretty much where my admiration for #OlayStories ends.
Turns out that the campaign is no different than Revlon's breast cancer awareness campaigns. Both companies are using cancer as a marketing tool. It's gross and irresponsible.
Hear me out. Olay is touting specific products as spokeswoman Hillary's 'beauty regimen' -- without regard to the fact that these products contain harmful chemicals. Revlon did the same thing with the series of ads featuring actress Emma Stone and her mother, a breast cancer survivor.
For kicks and giggles, I looked up 'Hillary's favorite' -- Olay's Total Effects 7-in-one anti-aging moisturizer with sunscreen. Parabens, check. Avobenzone, check. Oxybenzone, check. I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall.
Used to be that the endorsement of a celebrity was all a company needed to sell its cosmetics. Nowadays, the endorsement of a cancer survivor has so much more weight. Is that right? What's the message here? 'She's just like you, only she made it through what was probably the most horrific experience of her life. And now she's choosing our products, so you should, too.'
How much is Hillary being paid for this gig? I'm not saying that to be flip. I'm really curious. Consumers are hip to how much celebrities are paid for their endorsements -- potentially loads more than their actual vocation -- so how do the companies handle their deals with regulars like us?
Look, I don't like sh*tting on a fellow survivor, who probably more than anything wants to raise awareness for skin protection, and I don't fault her for getting caught up in Olay's smoke and mirrors. That said, I will NOT overlook or ignore instances of cosmetics companies exploiting cancer survivorship as a means to push their crap products. Olay, until you clean up your products, consider yourself on my sh*t list.
Righteously indignant,
Jazzy
Olay is playing up big time the 'everywoman beauty' as it has for a few years now. Great. But the new campaign takes it up a notch by featuring, as its first "Best Beautiful" story, skin cancer survivor Hillary. Her personal story, along with professionally-shot video and portraits, are the launchpad of this campaign.
On its face, I don't disagree with it. I am thrilled to see a company buck the trend of using one version of today's woman as the only version. But that's pretty much where my admiration for #OlayStories ends.
Turns out that the campaign is no different than Revlon's breast cancer awareness campaigns. Both companies are using cancer as a marketing tool. It's gross and irresponsible.
Hear me out. Olay is touting specific products as spokeswoman Hillary's 'beauty regimen' -- without regard to the fact that these products contain harmful chemicals. Revlon did the same thing with the series of ads featuring actress Emma Stone and her mother, a breast cancer survivor.
For kicks and giggles, I looked up 'Hillary's favorite' -- Olay's Total Effects 7-in-one anti-aging moisturizer with sunscreen. Parabens, check. Avobenzone, check. Oxybenzone, check. I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall.
Used to be that the endorsement of a celebrity was all a company needed to sell its cosmetics. Nowadays, the endorsement of a cancer survivor has so much more weight. Is that right? What's the message here? 'She's just like you, only she made it through what was probably the most horrific experience of her life. And now she's choosing our products, so you should, too.'
How much is Hillary being paid for this gig? I'm not saying that to be flip. I'm really curious. Consumers are hip to how much celebrities are paid for their endorsements -- potentially loads more than their actual vocation -- so how do the companies handle their deals with regulars like us?
Look, I don't like sh*tting on a fellow survivor, who probably more than anything wants to raise awareness for skin protection, and I don't fault her for getting caught up in Olay's smoke and mirrors. That said, I will NOT overlook or ignore instances of cosmetics companies exploiting cancer survivorship as a means to push their crap products. Olay, until you clean up your products, consider yourself on my sh*t list.
Righteously indignant,
Jazzy
Friday, April 11, 2014
Powder me toxic
In Wednesday's About Face, I lamented about the number of loose and pressed powders I saw in both GoodGuide and the Skin Deep databases that had decent ratings, despite containing what I know to be a not-so-nice ingredient: titanium dioxide.
Here's what EWG says about the chemical. The organization concedes that it's classified as a possible human carcinogen (for inhalation and products that may be aerosolized), according to the California Environmental Protection Agency.
I knew this already, but for a pretty random reason. Last year I bought a set of dry pastels that were labelled for California's Prop 65, which requires disclosure of carcinogenic ingredients. The sticker read "This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer." Yaaaaaay.
It was so disconcerting that I wrote about it on the blog (read the original post here.) After looking into it further, I learned that this popular sunscreen ingredient is in fact pretty hazardous when inhaled. Dry pastels create a lot of dust, so pastel painting requires real attention to ventilation.
Then, a few weeks ago when I was cleaning out some old cosmetics, I found this Lancome powder:
It was this battery-powered applicator for loose powder. Because some people are too damn lazy to pat the powder on themselves. I think I used it once. I remember it feeling fine, but I've never been an all-over makeup person. Back to debating whether or not I should keep it. That SPF 21 caught my eye, so I looked at the back of the box, and sure enough:
Here's what EWG says about the chemical. The organization concedes that it's classified as a possible human carcinogen (for inhalation and products that may be aerosolized), according to the California Environmental Protection Agency.
I knew this already, but for a pretty random reason. Last year I bought a set of dry pastels that were labelled for California's Prop 65, which requires disclosure of carcinogenic ingredients. The sticker read "This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer." Yaaaaaay.
It was so disconcerting that I wrote about it on the blog (read the original post here.) After looking into it further, I learned that this popular sunscreen ingredient is in fact pretty hazardous when inhaled. Dry pastels create a lot of dust, so pastel painting requires real attention to ventilation.Then, a few weeks ago when I was cleaning out some old cosmetics, I found this Lancome powder:
It was this battery-powered applicator for loose powder. Because some people are too damn lazy to pat the powder on themselves. I think I used it once. I remember it feeling fine, but I've never been an all-over makeup person. Back to debating whether or not I should keep it. That SPF 21 caught my eye, so I looked at the back of the box, and sure enough:
Titanium dioxide. In a loose powder. That's being applied to the immediate area around my nose and mouth.
So let me get this straight. If I use this product as intended, I'm exposing myself to a known carcinogen? NO. THANK. YOU.
EWG currently lists more than 13,000 products -- all cosmetics or personal products -- containing titanium dioxide in its Skin Deep database. How many of these cosmetics carry a Prop 65 label? NONE. How many of you would buy cosmetics that were labelled for containing cancer-causing chemicals?
I'm more than annoyed by the inconsistency in consumer protection. How much do the cosmetic companies pay to make sure things like slide through? Who's asleep at the wheel over at the FDA? Where's the outrage?
And that, my friends, is how we're wrapping up this week at SMACK! Know your ingredients and, as I wrote back in September, check your labels. Every. Time.
-- Jazzy
I'm more than annoyed by the inconsistency in consumer protection. How much do the cosmetic companies pay to make sure things like slide through? Who's asleep at the wheel over at the FDA? Where's the outrage?
And that, my friends, is how we're wrapping up this week at SMACK! Know your ingredients and, as I wrote back in September, check your labels. Every. Time.
-- Jazzy
Thursday, April 10, 2014
More nails
ANOTHER post about nail polish? Jazzy, are you kidding????
I know, I know, there's been a lot about nail polish lately. I SWEAR I don't work for Zoya. Today's post actually won't feature any one brand of polish. It has to do with the matte style polishes.
They're cool, no? Great for a different look than the standard glossy finish. So here's a great hack I found for getting that matte finish.
I saw it first as a pin on Pinterest, and you can see the original at PrettyGossip.com. It totally made my day -- not because I'm all over the matte trend, but because it makes use of a great, all natural ingredient. Bloody brilliant, if you ask me. I am so going to try this.
We're all about tips and hacks like this corn starch top coat here. I mean, what a great, SAFE way to rock a trend. There IS such a thing as healthy beauty!
Yours,
Jazzy
I know, I know, there's been a lot about nail polish lately. I SWEAR I don't work for Zoya. Today's post actually won't feature any one brand of polish. It has to do with the matte style polishes.
They're cool, no? Great for a different look than the standard glossy finish. So here's a great hack I found for getting that matte finish.
I saw it first as a pin on Pinterest, and you can see the original at PrettyGossip.com. It totally made my day -- not because I'm all over the matte trend, but because it makes use of a great, all natural ingredient. Bloody brilliant, if you ask me. I am so going to try this.
We're all about tips and hacks like this corn starch top coat here. I mean, what a great, SAFE way to rock a trend. There IS such a thing as healthy beauty!
Yours,
Jazzy
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
About Face: Lorde (Part 2)
Here's the second half of a 2-part post about finding healthy(er) products to copy the signature look of the hard-working, successful, beautiful Lorde.
First, foundation and concealer. By all means, go bare-faced if it suits you. If it doesn't, don't feel bad. Just don't do that heavy pancake thing that too many of us girls of the 90s grew up on. Really, don't be afraid to let those freckles or other points of interest peer through. After all, that's your face. That's your beauty.
Side note on foundations/primers: You may notice that the products I'm listing don't have added SPF. That's NOT because you can skip the sunscreen. It's simply because none of the combo products use sunscreen ingredients that are safe. Apply your sunscreen BEFORE your cosmetics, to reduce the chalkiness from the mineral ingredients.
EWG gives L'Oreal's Magic Smooth Souffle (MSRP $15.95USD) a rating of '1' -- with limited data -- for all shades. It's encouraging, but doesn't mean all L'Oreal products rate well. Another product with similar rating and similar ingredients is Pur Minerals Correcting Primer (MSRP $31.00USD). I don't like the use of the word 'correcting' because of the negative implication, but we'll take whatever options we can get.
Over at GoodGuide, L'Oreal's Infallible Never Fail Concealer gets top marks in the health category.
I am surprised at the number of powder-based products -- either loose or pressed powder -- that are getting good ratings from either site. But that's another post for another day. We have makeup to buy and try.
Next, the liner. The good news is that you don't have to splurge to get a really good kohl. Last year I reviewed Neutrogena's Nourishing Eye Liner (see the original post here) and my preference for it still stands. It goes on smoothly, comes in a nice selection of shades, and removes easily. Best part -- it's in nearly any drugstore and costs under $10! GoodGuide gives it an '8' for health.
If you want to spend a bit more, Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils retail for $20. Only some shades get good health ratings from GoodGuide (see the full list here), so take care when you pick your poison.
A dramatic eye just doesn't happen without mascara. Check out my review for Big Blink Mascara by Pur here. They're now calling it 'Big Look' -- check it here. GoodGuide gives top health scores to mascaras from Shu Uemura, The Body Shop and Maybelline, among others (the full list is here). EWG gives Ecco Bella a great score with the best data (most of the other top scoring products are based on limited data, which I take to mean limited ingredient data).
Last, but not least, the lip. Lorde's uber-hip pout is dressed up with really dark, really matte colors. GoodGuide's favorite matte lip is from Golden Rose, scoring an '8' for health, but the product isn't on the Golden Rose website. EWG gives Revlon's matte lipstick a '2' rating but with limited data. Turns out this is the trickiest part to replicating Lorde's look. I'm going to keep looking.
On the hunt for safer cosmetics,
Jazzy
First, foundation and concealer. By all means, go bare-faced if it suits you. If it doesn't, don't feel bad. Just don't do that heavy pancake thing that too many of us girls of the 90s grew up on. Really, don't be afraid to let those freckles or other points of interest peer through. After all, that's your face. That's your beauty.
Side note on foundations/primers: You may notice that the products I'm listing don't have added SPF. That's NOT because you can skip the sunscreen. It's simply because none of the combo products use sunscreen ingredients that are safe. Apply your sunscreen BEFORE your cosmetics, to reduce the chalkiness from the mineral ingredients.
EWG gives L'Oreal's Magic Smooth Souffle (MSRP $15.95USD) a rating of '1' -- with limited data -- for all shades. It's encouraging, but doesn't mean all L'Oreal products rate well. Another product with similar rating and similar ingredients is Pur Minerals Correcting Primer (MSRP $31.00USD). I don't like the use of the word 'correcting' because of the negative implication, but we'll take whatever options we can get.
Over at GoodGuide, L'Oreal's Infallible Never Fail Concealer gets top marks in the health category.
I am surprised at the number of powder-based products -- either loose or pressed powder -- that are getting good ratings from either site. But that's another post for another day. We have makeup to buy and try.
Next, the liner. The good news is that you don't have to splurge to get a really good kohl. Last year I reviewed Neutrogena's Nourishing Eye Liner (see the original post here) and my preference for it still stands. It goes on smoothly, comes in a nice selection of shades, and removes easily. Best part -- it's in nearly any drugstore and costs under $10! GoodGuide gives it an '8' for health.
If you want to spend a bit more, Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils retail for $20. Only some shades get good health ratings from GoodGuide (see the full list here), so take care when you pick your poison.
A dramatic eye just doesn't happen without mascara. Check out my review for Big Blink Mascara by Pur here. They're now calling it 'Big Look' -- check it here. GoodGuide gives top health scores to mascaras from Shu Uemura, The Body Shop and Maybelline, among others (the full list is here). EWG gives Ecco Bella a great score with the best data (most of the other top scoring products are based on limited data, which I take to mean limited ingredient data).
Last, but not least, the lip. Lorde's uber-hip pout is dressed up with really dark, really matte colors. GoodGuide's favorite matte lip is from Golden Rose, scoring an '8' for health, but the product isn't on the Golden Rose website. EWG gives Revlon's matte lipstick a '2' rating but with limited data. Turns out this is the trickiest part to replicating Lorde's look. I'm going to keep looking.
On the hunt for safer cosmetics,
Jazzy
About Face: Lorde (Part 1)
Call all the ladies out
They're in their finery
Lorde. So, so many reasons to love her. But this tweet of hers might very well be my favorite:
I love that she so willingly makes an example of herself -- in all the best ways. So that's why Lorde gets the spotlight in the latest About Face feature. About Face is where we break down popular cosmetic styles to get you the look you want with all the toxic junk.
(this will actually be a 2-part post because the early drafts were getting really long and I felt like I was rambling and well, you get the idea...)
Lorde's style is feminine without being fussy, polished but not overdone, fresh with just the right amount of edge. The cornerstone of her look are those eyes. Really, Lorde rocks some serious liner. More than that, though, is the way her liner makes her eyes pop without ten layers of shadow. The beauty is in the simplicity. And you can see how the simple eye makeup plays off her light skin and easy hair. It's a whole package, and she's nailed it.
Now, we don't cover technique here. That would be...rather...disastrous. If you want tips on drawing the perfect line or blending the perfect highlighter, hit up YouTube. I mean, there are just way too many variables to finding the right winged eye style: face shape, eye/hair color, hair length, skin tone, brow shape, so on and so forth.
BUT, if you want to know which products won't leech nasty things into your body, keep on clicking and reading! In the next half of this post, we will find products you could use to get your own version of Lorde's finery -- all products that score decent ratings through either EWG's Skin Deep or GoodGuide (or both).
Stay tuned!
-- Jazzy
They're in their finery
Lorde. So, so many reasons to love her. But this tweet of hers might very well be my favorite:
I love that she so willingly makes an example of herself -- in all the best ways. So that's why Lorde gets the spotlight in the latest About Face feature. About Face is where we break down popular cosmetic styles to get you the look you want with all the toxic junk.
(this will actually be a 2-part post because the early drafts were getting really long and I felt like I was rambling and well, you get the idea...)
Lorde's style is feminine without being fussy, polished but not overdone, fresh with just the right amount of edge. The cornerstone of her look are those eyes. Really, Lorde rocks some serious liner. More than that, though, is the way her liner makes her eyes pop without ten layers of shadow. The beauty is in the simplicity. And you can see how the simple eye makeup plays off her light skin and easy hair. It's a whole package, and she's nailed it.
Now, we don't cover technique here. That would be...rather...disastrous. If you want tips on drawing the perfect line or blending the perfect highlighter, hit up YouTube. I mean, there are just way too many variables to finding the right winged eye style: face shape, eye/hair color, hair length, skin tone, brow shape, so on and so forth.
BUT, if you want to know which products won't leech nasty things into your body, keep on clicking and reading! In the next half of this post, we will find products you could use to get your own version of Lorde's finery -- all products that score decent ratings through either EWG's Skin Deep or GoodGuide (or both).
Stay tuned!
-- Jazzy
Monday, April 7, 2014
The big picture
Over the weekend I saw that CNN ran this opinion piece on Friday from the Breast Cancer Fund's director of science Sharima Rasanayagam. She makes the case for the lack of oversight in the cosmetics industry, citing the presence of lead in lipsticks.
I mention it because it seems the Breast Cancer Fund and its cousin organizations EWG and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics have a new friend in the media. For a long time, the Huffington Post served as their mouthpiece. It's pretty nice to see another mainstream news organization picking up their message and giving them some play.
As I like to say, the efforts to make noise and raise awareness are working. Every time you complain to local retailers about the products on their shelves. Every conversation you have with your friends about the shady ingredients in cosmetics and beauty products. Every headline in your news feed about the toxic chemicals in household products that you share with your peers.
It's not a small thing to have the attention of the world's largest and most recognized news channel. Kudos to the Breast Cancer Fund for not only sounding the alarm, but working doubly hard to make sure people are hearing it.
-- Jazzy
I mention it because it seems the Breast Cancer Fund and its cousin organizations EWG and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics have a new friend in the media. For a long time, the Huffington Post served as their mouthpiece. It's pretty nice to see another mainstream news organization picking up their message and giving them some play.
As I like to say, the efforts to make noise and raise awareness are working. Every time you complain to local retailers about the products on their shelves. Every conversation you have with your friends about the shady ingredients in cosmetics and beauty products. Every headline in your news feed about the toxic chemicals in household products that you share with your peers.
It's not a small thing to have the attention of the world's largest and most recognized news channel. Kudos to the Breast Cancer Fund for not only sounding the alarm, but working doubly hard to make sure people are hearing it.
-- Jazzy
Friday, April 4, 2014
Fifty shades
Hahaha, you were secretly thinking this post would be something dirty, didn't you! I'm having a good laugh over here. That was such a poorly written book.
Really, it's just another nail polish post. Wednesday I ditched about two dozen bottles of gross, toxic, separated and rancid nail polish. I'm rebuilding my home collection with Zoya colors, and maybe soon with picks from Pacifica.
Pacifica's a totally vegan line of fragrances and beauty products. Based on their website, their bread and butter is perfume, which I'll admit has me wondering just how 'natural' their ingredients are. EWG has just 39 Pacifica products in the Skin Deep database, all with ratings of 5 or lower, but most with limited data (which can mean that not all ingredient information has been disclosed). Good Guide has even fewer product listings -- just a half dozen, all with just partial data -- and doesn't give their solid perfumes very good health ratings. You can see for yourself here. I guess we'll hold off on final judgment for now?
The company announced the nail color line last month on Instagram of all places.
They have just two colors going for Spring: Dark Desert Highway and Turquoise Tiara. But -- according to the website -- all colors will be '7 free'. Pacifica's adding xylene and parabens to the industry's nearly standard list of offensive ingredients.
Will those ingredients be replaced with other harmful chemicals? Don't know. Don't know much of anything because Pacifica itself hasn't said or done a whole lot with this launch. But apparently they've said enough, since I'm now watching closely for a new nail product that will chase off the likes of OPI and Essie back to the toxic hells from which they came.
Happy Friday,
Jazzy
Really, it's just another nail polish post. Wednesday I ditched about two dozen bottles of gross, toxic, separated and rancid nail polish. I'm rebuilding my home collection with Zoya colors, and maybe soon with picks from Pacifica.
Pacifica's a totally vegan line of fragrances and beauty products. Based on their website, their bread and butter is perfume, which I'll admit has me wondering just how 'natural' their ingredients are. EWG has just 39 Pacifica products in the Skin Deep database, all with ratings of 5 or lower, but most with limited data (which can mean that not all ingredient information has been disclosed). Good Guide has even fewer product listings -- just a half dozen, all with just partial data -- and doesn't give their solid perfumes very good health ratings. You can see for yourself here. I guess we'll hold off on final judgment for now?
The company announced the nail color line last month on Instagram of all places.
They have just two colors going for Spring: Dark Desert Highway and Turquoise Tiara. But -- according to the website -- all colors will be '7 free'. Pacifica's adding xylene and parabens to the industry's nearly standard list of offensive ingredients.
Will those ingredients be replaced with other harmful chemicals? Don't know. Don't know much of anything because Pacifica itself hasn't said or done a whole lot with this launch. But apparently they've said enough, since I'm now watching closely for a new nail product that will chase off the likes of OPI and Essie back to the toxic hells from which they came.
Happy Friday,
Jazzy
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
No Joke
That post yesterday wasn't an April Fool's joke -- we're back to a regular blogging schedule. So what's doing on this glorious Hump Day? I'm *trying* to do some Spring cleaning. It's slow going. But I did find way too many yucky nail polishes among my bathroom treasures.
In. The. Trash! Which of course I then feel really guilty about doing, because if the chemicals in all these nail polishes are too toxic for me to use, what do they do to the environment?
Really, Jazzy? You're making us read about your tendencies to clutter and emote over inanimate objects?
Actually, what I'm trying to do is show what real folks have to do, have to choose, have to consider while trying clean up their lifestyles. Because healthier living isn't just for the privileged and the well-off. Sustainable health is a basic human right. For everyone. And change isn't just big Internet marketing campaigns and publicity events. Change is what happens when we adjust the small things in our daily lives, in our habits and choices. Those small things add up, everyday, to have a big impact.
One bottle of nail polish at a time.
Yours in cleaner living,
Jazzy
In. The. Trash! Which of course I then feel really guilty about doing, because if the chemicals in all these nail polishes are too toxic for me to use, what do they do to the environment?
Really, Jazzy? You're making us read about your tendencies to clutter and emote over inanimate objects?
Actually, what I'm trying to do is show what real folks have to do, have to choose, have to consider while trying clean up their lifestyles. Because healthier living isn't just for the privileged and the well-off. Sustainable health is a basic human right. For everyone. And change isn't just big Internet marketing campaigns and publicity events. Change is what happens when we adjust the small things in our daily lives, in our habits and choices. Those small things add up, everyday, to have a big impact.
One bottle of nail polish at a time.
Yours in cleaner living,
Jazzy
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Trash day
We recycle a lot in our house. It's something I'm especially proud of, when on pickup day the trash bin has just a couple bags in it but the recycle bin is positively overflowing and I'm putting out paper bags next to it filled with even more recyclables.
In this week's collection, some old cosmetics that I found as I try to get a jump start on some spring cleaning. Can I call it spring purging?
All this came just from a basket on my bathroom counter. No joke, some of that stuff goes back to the late 80s. Like my first-ever blush and a Clinique lipstick that's rusty. Gross.
I still have to go through my entire vanity, where two bigger plastic storage bins are filled with even more crap that I hardly ever used, even before I knew how toxic some of it is. I won't lie -- it was hugely satisfying and cathartic to pitch the stuff. A small act that helps me simplify my life, helps me keep my body a smidge healthier.
I absolutely encourage you to expand whatever your spring cleaning rituals are to include what you use in your daily routines. Think about how many steps you take to ready yourself, how many products you use. Is there a better way? Are there better products? What's in that eye shadow I've been using since 2005? Can I use a gentler body wash? Do I really need 17 lipsticks?
Even cleaning out one small drawer or cabinet will make a huge difference. See, it's not just getting rid of the stuff, but the change in thinking that brings on real results. You can do it!
Yours in parsing down,
Jazzy
In this week's collection, some old cosmetics that I found as I try to get a jump start on some spring cleaning. Can I call it spring purging?
All this came just from a basket on my bathroom counter. No joke, some of that stuff goes back to the late 80s. Like my first-ever blush and a Clinique lipstick that's rusty. Gross.
I still have to go through my entire vanity, where two bigger plastic storage bins are filled with even more crap that I hardly ever used, even before I knew how toxic some of it is. I won't lie -- it was hugely satisfying and cathartic to pitch the stuff. A small act that helps me simplify my life, helps me keep my body a smidge healthier.
I absolutely encourage you to expand whatever your spring cleaning rituals are to include what you use in your daily routines. Think about how many steps you take to ready yourself, how many products you use. Is there a better way? Are there better products? What's in that eye shadow I've been using since 2005? Can I use a gentler body wash? Do I really need 17 lipsticks?
Even cleaning out one small drawer or cabinet will make a huge difference. See, it's not just getting rid of the stuff, but the change in thinking that brings on real results. You can do it!
Yours in parsing down,
Jazzy
Friday, February 7, 2014
SMACK! Reviews: Trader Joe's Jojoba Oil
I recently ran out of facial moisturizer. The funny thing is, my first instinct was to hit up Whole Foods and see what they've got on the shelves. Then I remembered a conversation I had with my friend Claudine a couple months ago about using oil to moisturize skin.
Oil. It's not a new idea. Seriously, folks have been anointing themselves with oils since biblical times. What's more pure? More recently (like, last week), HuffPo ran this piece in its Style section about face oils. Now, I *think* they were talking about fancy oils in delicate packaging so much like overpriced higher-end cosmetics, like the 1.7 oz vial of facial oil that Fresh sells for FIFTY DOLLARS.
Me, I'm talking about food-grade oil. Yes, cooking oil. I mean, if it's safe to ingest, it should be safe to use on my skin, right? Claudine uses, and recommended, safflower oil for head-to-toe moisturizing. She gets a big bottle at her local Trader Joe's.
So on my last trip to TJs I actually had my sh*t together and remembered to check out their oils. The safflower oil is on the same shelf as the olive and canola oils. Trader's also sells a bottle of jojoba oil in the health & beauty section, labelled for removing makeup and moisturizing. Without any idea as to how my skin would react to the oil, I didn't really want to commit to a full size bottle of safflower or olive oil. The smaller bottle of jojoba oil seemed just right. Four ounces for $6.99. Sold!
I've been using it for a couple weeks now, swiping it on with a cotton ball after washing my face. I still use my Neutrogena eye makeup remover, so I can't really speak to how well it takes off the day. But I can tell you how it feels and what it does for my skin.
It's oil, so it's thick. I take a fingernail-sized amount on a cotton ball and wipe it gently over my face and neck. I use the clean side of the cotton ball to wipe off any extra, but there's never much coming off. I was pleasantly surprised to see how nicely the oil absorbs into my skin. No grease monkey here.
What's even nicer is how soft my skin feels, even hours later. Like, actually soft. And this is during peak winter weather. I have forever had dry skin, and these are the worst months. Forced hot-water heat doesn't help matters. But this jojoba oil, it makes me forget all about dry skin.
If you're new to face oils, prepare yourself for an adjustment period. So many lotions and creams are medicated, for acne control or anti-aging, and oils aren't. And while that's kind of the point, to use something pure and free of chemicals, skin needs some time to get used to the new. At least mine does.
So my chin is revisiting my teen years, with blemishes of all different shapes and sizes popping up. It's ok. I see it as a sign that my skin is finally doing what it's supposed to with dirt and stress and crummy eating (ahem, Girl Scout cookies, I'm looking at you).
One important thing to remember: don't forget the sunscreen!! Moisturizers with SPF are so convenient, but there's nothing here protecting my skin from UV light. I'll be looking for another good mineral-based sunscreen that I can use on top of this oil come warmer weather (or sunny days on the slopes).
Wow. I totally didn't mean for this post to get so long. I guess I had a lot to say on the subject! Have you tried face oils? Let me know what you think!
--Jazzy
Oil. It's not a new idea. Seriously, folks have been anointing themselves with oils since biblical times. What's more pure? More recently (like, last week), HuffPo ran this piece in its Style section about face oils. Now, I *think* they were talking about fancy oils in delicate packaging so much like overpriced higher-end cosmetics, like the 1.7 oz vial of facial oil that Fresh sells for FIFTY DOLLARS.
Me, I'm talking about food-grade oil. Yes, cooking oil. I mean, if it's safe to ingest, it should be safe to use on my skin, right? Claudine uses, and recommended, safflower oil for head-to-toe moisturizing. She gets a big bottle at her local Trader Joe's.
So on my last trip to TJs I actually had my sh*t together and remembered to check out their oils. The safflower oil is on the same shelf as the olive and canola oils. Trader's also sells a bottle of jojoba oil in the health & beauty section, labelled for removing makeup and moisturizing. Without any idea as to how my skin would react to the oil, I didn't really want to commit to a full size bottle of safflower or olive oil. The smaller bottle of jojoba oil seemed just right. Four ounces for $6.99. Sold!
I've been using it for a couple weeks now, swiping it on with a cotton ball after washing my face. I still use my Neutrogena eye makeup remover, so I can't really speak to how well it takes off the day. But I can tell you how it feels and what it does for my skin.
It's oil, so it's thick. I take a fingernail-sized amount on a cotton ball and wipe it gently over my face and neck. I use the clean side of the cotton ball to wipe off any extra, but there's never much coming off. I was pleasantly surprised to see how nicely the oil absorbs into my skin. No grease monkey here.
What's even nicer is how soft my skin feels, even hours later. Like, actually soft. And this is during peak winter weather. I have forever had dry skin, and these are the worst months. Forced hot-water heat doesn't help matters. But this jojoba oil, it makes me forget all about dry skin.
If you're new to face oils, prepare yourself for an adjustment period. So many lotions and creams are medicated, for acne control or anti-aging, and oils aren't. And while that's kind of the point, to use something pure and free of chemicals, skin needs some time to get used to the new. At least mine does.
So my chin is revisiting my teen years, with blemishes of all different shapes and sizes popping up. It's ok. I see it as a sign that my skin is finally doing what it's supposed to with dirt and stress and crummy eating (ahem, Girl Scout cookies, I'm looking at you).
One important thing to remember: don't forget the sunscreen!! Moisturizers with SPF are so convenient, but there's nothing here protecting my skin from UV light. I'll be looking for another good mineral-based sunscreen that I can use on top of this oil come warmer weather (or sunny days on the slopes).
Wow. I totally didn't mean for this post to get so long. I guess I had a lot to say on the subject! Have you tried face oils? Let me know what you think!
--Jazzy
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Because toxins don't discriminate
I came across a new (to me) blog last week, and wanted to share it. Organic Beauty Vixen is run by Sherrell Dorsey, who hails from Seattle to represent women of color in the fight to clean up cosmetics and personal products. I really love Sherrell's 'Blaq List' -- a really good rundown of chemicals to avoid in your daily beauty routine.
Now I don't really know what the demographic breakdown of SMACK!'s readership is, nor do I need to, in order to recommend this blog. The point here is that we ALL need as much information as we can get to be smarter consumers (wasn't that one of our New Year's resolutions?). Do you think endocrine disruptors, formaldehyde releasers, hormone mimickers and the such care what we look like?
I for one have a lot of learn from women like Sherrell, and have added OBV to my reading list. Check it out for yourself and see what you think!
Yours,
Jazzy
Now I don't really know what the demographic breakdown of SMACK!'s readership is, nor do I need to, in order to recommend this blog. The point here is that we ALL need as much information as we can get to be smarter consumers (wasn't that one of our New Year's resolutions?). Do you think endocrine disruptors, formaldehyde releasers, hormone mimickers and the such care what we look like?
I for one have a lot of learn from women like Sherrell, and have added OBV to my reading list. Check it out for yourself and see what you think!
Yours,
Jazzy
Friday, January 10, 2014
Brand Visit: Nivea
Soooo, when I said to come back later for SMACK's first Brand Visit, I hadn't originally meant this much later. But here we are, spending a lovely Friday night together.
Without the benefit of any consistency through brands or product lines, how do we as consumers know who's doing a good job making and selling safe products? It turns out that hardly any of the brands have a full lineup of safe offerings. So with each Brand Visit we'll try to sort through the noise and marketing to see what's worth trying and what you should avoid.
First up is Nivea, who dropped some serious cash to put its name all over Times Square for the heavily televised New Year's Eve celebration. Something about winter dry lips and kissing.
Bonus history lesson: Nivea is owned by Beiersdorf, the German company which also owns Eucerin and LaPrairie. The company itself was founded in 1882 by pharmacist Paul Beiersdorf, and leans heavily still today on positioning its brands as dermatologically developed, implying the inherent trust that consumers will give nearly anything with a medical slant. That's what marketing does, create associations for the benefit of the manufacturer, not the consumer.
Ok, Nivea, let's see how you look under the lens of scrutiny. EWG rates 198 of the company's products, while GoodGuide includes 181 products in its rankings. We're not looking at every single one. Let's instead check out the better- and worse-rated items and see where the rating guides agree -- and disagree -- with how different products and ingredients are ranked.
(All this helps us be more informed consumers, as we touched on in our New Year's resolutions. You're welcome.)
We'll start by pointing out that EWG gives none of the Nivea products it ranks -- NONE -- a rating lower than '3'. Over at GoodGuide, just one Nivea product -- Silhouette Redefining Gel Cream -- receives a health rating higher than a 6. (Remember that both the Skin Deep and GoodGuide databases rank products on a 1-10 scale, using opposite extremes. GoodGuide reserves 10 as the best score, while for EWG it's a 0.)
Let's dig a little deeper into the ratings. EWG and GoodGuide seem in agreement about Nivea's Original Moisture Daily Lotion, each giving it a 'not bad, but not great' rating. And when we look at the individual ingredients, we see why. Both ratings guides call out the use of METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE (MI or MIT), a common preservative in cosmetics. GoodGuide notes that Canada has restricted the use of the chemical. Did you know that last month the EU decided to ban MI altogether? Here's the news article from the Daily Mail.
Errrr, aaawwwkward. I mean, that's one of the better-rated Nivea products.
The worst ones? At the Skin Deep database, they are a few Nivea for Men products and a handful of shower gels. GoodGuide fills nearly all its bottom-of-the-barrel slots with Nivea for Men.
This is getting long. The take-aways here are that if you're shopping for shower gel or men's skin care, Nivea's not your brand. If you do use any Nivea products, watch the ingredients, especially for that pesky MI. And also know that petroleum is one of the brand's cornerstone ingredients.
So Happy New Year, Nivea. Thanks for keeping our lips kissably soft.
Yours,
Jazzy
Without the benefit of any consistency through brands or product lines, how do we as consumers know who's doing a good job making and selling safe products? It turns out that hardly any of the brands have a full lineup of safe offerings. So with each Brand Visit we'll try to sort through the noise and marketing to see what's worth trying and what you should avoid.
First up is Nivea, who dropped some serious cash to put its name all over Times Square for the heavily televised New Year's Eve celebration. Something about winter dry lips and kissing.
Bonus history lesson: Nivea is owned by Beiersdorf, the German company which also owns Eucerin and LaPrairie. The company itself was founded in 1882 by pharmacist Paul Beiersdorf, and leans heavily still today on positioning its brands as dermatologically developed, implying the inherent trust that consumers will give nearly anything with a medical slant. That's what marketing does, create associations for the benefit of the manufacturer, not the consumer.
Ok, Nivea, let's see how you look under the lens of scrutiny. EWG rates 198 of the company's products, while GoodGuide includes 181 products in its rankings. We're not looking at every single one. Let's instead check out the better- and worse-rated items and see where the rating guides agree -- and disagree -- with how different products and ingredients are ranked.
(All this helps us be more informed consumers, as we touched on in our New Year's resolutions. You're welcome.)
We'll start by pointing out that EWG gives none of the Nivea products it ranks -- NONE -- a rating lower than '3'. Over at GoodGuide, just one Nivea product -- Silhouette Redefining Gel Cream -- receives a health rating higher than a 6. (Remember that both the Skin Deep and GoodGuide databases rank products on a 1-10 scale, using opposite extremes. GoodGuide reserves 10 as the best score, while for EWG it's a 0.)
Let's dig a little deeper into the ratings. EWG and GoodGuide seem in agreement about Nivea's Original Moisture Daily Lotion, each giving it a 'not bad, but not great' rating. And when we look at the individual ingredients, we see why. Both ratings guides call out the use of METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE (MI or MIT), a common preservative in cosmetics. GoodGuide notes that Canada has restricted the use of the chemical. Did you know that last month the EU decided to ban MI altogether? Here's the news article from the Daily Mail.
Errrr, aaawwwkward. I mean, that's one of the better-rated Nivea products.
The worst ones? At the Skin Deep database, they are a few Nivea for Men products and a handful of shower gels. GoodGuide fills nearly all its bottom-of-the-barrel slots with Nivea for Men.
This is getting long. The take-aways here are that if you're shopping for shower gel or men's skin care, Nivea's not your brand. If you do use any Nivea products, watch the ingredients, especially for that pesky MI. And also know that petroleum is one of the brand's cornerstone ingredients.
So Happy New Year, Nivea. Thanks for keeping our lips kissably soft.
Yours,
Jazzy
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Healthy nails
Last month (last year!) I tried out nail color from Zoya, bringing it to my local nail salon for a spa pedi. You can read my review here. It still looks great! But my hands, they are in sh*t shape from the last gel manicure I had. The polish came off easily enough, but my nails are breaking and snagging super easily, no matter how short I keep them. Coincidence?
I bring it up because of this article in the San Francisco Chronicle, about the health of Bay area nail salons (and their workers and patrons). Once again California is showing up the other 49 with a program that encourages nail salons to use different products and practices that benefit the health of workers and customers alike.
The Healthy Nail Salon Recognition Program, launched last year through Alameda County's Dept. of Environmental Health, gives the county's some 350 nail salons -- and about 1,000 manicurists employed by them -- a program for eliminating the toxic chemicals found in [too] many nail products.
If you're in that area, hit up Leann's Nails in Alameda. The salon was featured in the article and was publicly recognized by county officials for its participation in the program. Business owner Lan-Anh Truong gets it, too. She told the Chronicle, "Being in a healthy nail salon is good for my staff, good for my customers, good for my environment."
See? Win-win for everyone.
Now, remember that New Year's resolution about using your voice? Here's a great way to do it! Take this idea to your local officials. Use this article to show them that IT WORKS. Make the case that all the salon workers (go through the phone book and tally up the number of nail salons in your area, if you have to) and customers shouldn't be exposed to the 'Five' toxic chemicals found in traditional nail polish. That's real change.
Your favorite rabble-rouser,
Jazzy
I bring it up because of this article in the San Francisco Chronicle, about the health of Bay area nail salons (and their workers and patrons). Once again California is showing up the other 49 with a program that encourages nail salons to use different products and practices that benefit the health of workers and customers alike.
The Healthy Nail Salon Recognition Program, launched last year through Alameda County's Dept. of Environmental Health, gives the county's some 350 nail salons -- and about 1,000 manicurists employed by them -- a program for eliminating the toxic chemicals found in [too] many nail products.
If you're in that area, hit up Leann's Nails in Alameda. The salon was featured in the article and was publicly recognized by county officials for its participation in the program. Business owner Lan-Anh Truong gets it, too. She told the Chronicle, "Being in a healthy nail salon is good for my staff, good for my customers, good for my environment."
See? Win-win for everyone.
Now, remember that New Year's resolution about using your voice? Here's a great way to do it! Take this idea to your local officials. Use this article to show them that IT WORKS. Make the case that all the salon workers (go through the phone book and tally up the number of nail salons in your area, if you have to) and customers shouldn't be exposed to the 'Five' toxic chemicals found in traditional nail polish. That's real change.
Your favorite rabble-rouser,
Jazzy
Monday, January 6, 2014
Too good to be true
Are counterfeit vendors still a thing in New York? I don't recall seeing many when we were there last spring, but there was a lot of the city we didn't get to. I've always gotten a kick out of the knock-offs they would sell, and how they would sell them. All about the flattery, super entertaining. About 15 years ago I bought my dad a fake Gucci watch, and he wears it to this day!
Less entertaining are counterfeit cosmetics and fragrances. You think you're getting a deal on some high-end product (isn't that always the hook?) but according to this consumer alert from the FBI, you're getting a lot more than you bargained for.
It's straight out of a Bourne movie. Foreign importers, shady operations, the unwitting consumer. Hazardous chemicals hidden in popular cosmetic items, moved through back alley dealers. I'm going home. This sh*t writes itself.
Just kidding. It's not writing itself, because, according to the FBI, the larger, more dramatic story is that knock-off cosmetics and fragrances aren't just ripping off big corporations. They can also be highly toxic.
Interesting. Makes a lot of sense that these totally unregulated products are being manufactured in a way that eschews consumer safety for a quick profit. Oh wait, am I referring to the knock-off items or the genuine, brand-name products they're hacking?
I find it a bit curious that this alert comes from the FBI, which obviously has been tasked with taking on the counterfeiting business with its 'partner' the National Intellectual Property Rights Center. There is nothing -- not so much as a whisper -- about this over at the FDA.
Is it unreasonable of me to think that two government agencies could/should/would work together to maximize effectiveness? Hahahahahahahaha
Counterfeit cosmetics are a real issue. Toxic ingredients in counterfeit AND authentic cosmetics are a real issue. Who's protecting consumers here? Call me crazy, but I don't want the FBI involved in cosmetics watch any more than I want the FDA keeping tabs on bank robberies.
That being said, it's a good alert. Watch what you buy. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Yours,
Jazzy
Less entertaining are counterfeit cosmetics and fragrances. You think you're getting a deal on some high-end product (isn't that always the hook?) but according to this consumer alert from the FBI, you're getting a lot more than you bargained for.
It's straight out of a Bourne movie. Foreign importers, shady operations, the unwitting consumer. Hazardous chemicals hidden in popular cosmetic items, moved through back alley dealers. I'm going home. This sh*t writes itself.
Just kidding. It's not writing itself, because, according to the FBI, the larger, more dramatic story is that knock-off cosmetics and fragrances aren't just ripping off big corporations. They can also be highly toxic.
Interesting. Makes a lot of sense that these totally unregulated products are being manufactured in a way that eschews consumer safety for a quick profit. Oh wait, am I referring to the knock-off items or the genuine, brand-name products they're hacking?
I find it a bit curious that this alert comes from the FBI, which obviously has been tasked with taking on the counterfeiting business with its 'partner' the National Intellectual Property Rights Center. There is nothing -- not so much as a whisper -- about this over at the FDA.
Is it unreasonable of me to think that two government agencies could/should/would work together to maximize effectiveness? Hahahahahahahaha
Counterfeit cosmetics are a real issue. Toxic ingredients in counterfeit AND authentic cosmetics are a real issue. Who's protecting consumers here? Call me crazy, but I don't want the FBI involved in cosmetics watch any more than I want the FDA keeping tabs on bank robberies.
That being said, it's a good alert. Watch what you buy. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Yours,
Jazzy
Friday, January 3, 2014
SMACK! Review: Big Blink Mascara by Pur Minerals
Our first product review of 2014!
I love mascara. My ophthalmologist hates that I love mascara. Something about eye infections, which, now that I think about it, might explain all those times I had pink eye back in undergrad.
For most of my 20s I absolutely loved Max Factor's 2000 Calorie mascara, in a great Deep Auburn shade, and also a briefly-available Dark Navy that was really subtle but super awesome when someone would catch the color in just the right light and stop me to ask if I was really wearing blue mascara? True story.
Fast forward many years, many tubes of mascara, and for sh*ts and giggles we'll throw in eight rounds of chemo. No hair = no eyelashes. That was difficult. I mean, anyone can make do with a wig but falsies don't really work when there's nothing keeping them from sliding off your eyelids. Eyeliner. Lots of eyeliner.
I recently came across this Big Blink mascara by Pur Minerals at the suggestion of the sales consultant at my local Ulta. GoodGuide doesn't have it in any product rankings, but it gets a relatively benign '2' rating from EWG. I use the term loosely because the rating is based on limited data, even though the EWG report lists all the ingredients provided on the product label.
Ulta sells both the full size product ($20) and a smaller trial size for $10, which I thought was a good way to try it out without being stuck with something I don't really like. It also seemed like a good way to actually use up most of the mascara before it turns rank (which, even though I wear mascara nearly every day, happens to nearly every tube. Total conspiracy.)
Ok, let's do this. The mascara is marketed heavily for its use of Argan oil. Am I the only one who doesn't care about that? Sounds like a gimmick to me. But the brush/wand thingy was a real selling point for me. It's a cool-looking silicon thing with really short bristles. Very different from the classic mascara wand most of us grew up watching our mothers and big sisters using.
So I apply one coat and it's really smooth. Maybe that Argan oil isn't such a gimmick. Goes on evenly but lightly, not clumpy or heavy-feeling. And when I'm done, what do I see? Long, sweeping lashes. Separated, slightly curled, ready for major eye-batting.
Big Blink also has going for it the fact that it's not tested on animals, but this mascara is NOT waterproof. Me, I like that because it's easy to remove. Some of you may not like that, because the slightest bit of moisture will mean streaking, 80s style.
I love it. I've used it nearly every day since buying it for just the right amount of lash definition and accentuation -- without looking like a Kardashian. So if you're looking for a new mascara and have the chance to pick up some Big Blink, go for it. You won't be disappointed.
-- Jazzy
I love mascara. My ophthalmologist hates that I love mascara. Something about eye infections, which, now that I think about it, might explain all those times I had pink eye back in undergrad.
For most of my 20s I absolutely loved Max Factor's 2000 Calorie mascara, in a great Deep Auburn shade, and also a briefly-available Dark Navy that was really subtle but super awesome when someone would catch the color in just the right light and stop me to ask if I was really wearing blue mascara? True story.
Fast forward many years, many tubes of mascara, and for sh*ts and giggles we'll throw in eight rounds of chemo. No hair = no eyelashes. That was difficult. I mean, anyone can make do with a wig but falsies don't really work when there's nothing keeping them from sliding off your eyelids. Eyeliner. Lots of eyeliner.
I recently came across this Big Blink mascara by Pur Minerals at the suggestion of the sales consultant at my local Ulta. GoodGuide doesn't have it in any product rankings, but it gets a relatively benign '2' rating from EWG. I use the term loosely because the rating is based on limited data, even though the EWG report lists all the ingredients provided on the product label.
Ulta sells both the full size product ($20) and a smaller trial size for $10, which I thought was a good way to try it out without being stuck with something I don't really like. It also seemed like a good way to actually use up most of the mascara before it turns rank (which, even though I wear mascara nearly every day, happens to nearly every tube. Total conspiracy.)
Ok, let's do this. The mascara is marketed heavily for its use of Argan oil. Am I the only one who doesn't care about that? Sounds like a gimmick to me. But the brush/wand thingy was a real selling point for me. It's a cool-looking silicon thing with really short bristles. Very different from the classic mascara wand most of us grew up watching our mothers and big sisters using.
So I apply one coat and it's really smooth. Maybe that Argan oil isn't such a gimmick. Goes on evenly but lightly, not clumpy or heavy-feeling. And when I'm done, what do I see? Long, sweeping lashes. Separated, slightly curled, ready for major eye-batting.
Big Blink also has going for it the fact that it's not tested on animals, but this mascara is NOT waterproof. Me, I like that because it's easy to remove. Some of you may not like that, because the slightest bit of moisture will mean streaking, 80s style.
I love it. I've used it nearly every day since buying it for just the right amount of lash definition and accentuation -- without looking like a Kardashian. So if you're looking for a new mascara and have the chance to pick up some Big Blink, go for it. You won't be disappointed.
-- Jazzy
Thursday, December 26, 2013
SMACK! Review: Zoya nail lacquer (part 2)
I'm nearly a week out from my pedicure with Zoya nail polish in the 'Sarah' shade. The original post with the first half of the review is here.
So how's it hanging? Pretty good if you ask me! The polish still looks glossy and fresh. I was really happy with how it's been wearing, so I decided to give myself a little Christmas mani with the lighter 'Erikka' shade. And what did I learn?
That I should leave the manicuring to the professionals. Really.
About the polish, the 'Erikka' shade is a shimmery pink with a touch of gold for warmth. Not as sheer as the jar color would have you think, though. So two coats -- albeit by my unsteady and unskilled hand -- look a bit like cotton candy that's just been sprayed with pixie dust. Not a bad color, just not really what I normally go for in the ballet pink color family.
It's also really dull. Like, not shiny. Not matte, but not glossy. Now granted, I used neither a base coat or top coat (see what I mean about leaving the nail painting to the professionals? I'm a hack). But still, doesn't non-matte nail lacquer always have that glossy fresh finish?
It could be the fact that Zoya is five-free. It could be the shade. It could be that I'm a loser who skips base coat and top coat and then complains about her nail polish looking crappy. Smooth move, Jazzy.
At the end of the day, my fingernails are jacked but my toenails still look great. My next assignment will be to try it with the right clear coat and also try another brand of five-free polish to see how they compare. In the meantime, don't take me up on any offers to paint your nails. You'll get what you pay for.
Best,
Jazzy
PS -- The Erikka shade isn't listed on the Zoya website...old color??
So how's it hanging? Pretty good if you ask me! The polish still looks glossy and fresh. I was really happy with how it's been wearing, so I decided to give myself a little Christmas mani with the lighter 'Erikka' shade. And what did I learn?
That I should leave the manicuring to the professionals. Really.
About the polish, the 'Erikka' shade is a shimmery pink with a touch of gold for warmth. Not as sheer as the jar color would have you think, though. So two coats -- albeit by my unsteady and unskilled hand -- look a bit like cotton candy that's just been sprayed with pixie dust. Not a bad color, just not really what I normally go for in the ballet pink color family.
It's also really dull. Like, not shiny. Not matte, but not glossy. Now granted, I used neither a base coat or top coat (see what I mean about leaving the nail painting to the professionals? I'm a hack). But still, doesn't non-matte nail lacquer always have that glossy fresh finish?
It could be the fact that Zoya is five-free. It could be the shade. It could be that I'm a loser who skips base coat and top coat and then complains about her nail polish looking crappy. Smooth move, Jazzy.
At the end of the day, my fingernails are jacked but my toenails still look great. My next assignment will be to try it with the right clear coat and also try another brand of five-free polish to see how they compare. In the meantime, don't take me up on any offers to paint your nails. You'll get what you pay for.
Best,
Jazzy
PS -- The Erikka shade isn't listed on the Zoya website...old color??
Sunday, December 22, 2013
SMACK! Review: Zoya nail lacquer (part 1)
Finally got to take my new Zoya nail color for a test drive the other day. I'm breaking this review up into two parts to cover not just how the nail polish goes on, but also how it stays on. So expect an update in a couple weeks to see how it's wearing.
Here's how it went down. I decided to get a pedicure and grabbed the bright glittery red 'Sarah' shade to jazz up my piggies.
The stylist at my local nail salon didn't so much as bat an eyelash at the fact that I had brought my own. In fact, as I cozied into the massage chair and thought about it, it increases the margins ever so slightly for customers to provide their own supplies. So if the nasty chemicals in salon brand polishes (OPI, Essie, etc) aren't enough reason for you to BYO three- or five-free colors, think about supporting the small business owners and low-wage workers who have to touch all manner of weird feet things, ew.
Back to the Zoya. I love the color. It's a bright, warm, pinky red with gold shimmer and glitter. Perfect for holiday, or your inner 5-year-old who loves sparkly things. Of your real 5-year-old, since Zoya doesn't have any of the 'Toxic Five' in its formula: formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and camphor.
The Zoya brush is a wee small, at least compared to my giant big toenail, but the stylist was plenty skilled to make sure the polish went on smoothly and evenly. Two coats looked great, so under the dryer I went.
Now I wasn't smart enough, when I bought the nail polish, to think about the fact that the top coat and base coat at the salon have just the same junk in them as everything else. I have read or heard somewhere something about 'shrinkage' when you use a five-free lacquer with other high-chemical polishes, so we'll see what happens over the next couple weeks of showers, slippers, the occasional workout and other general wear and tear.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the review!
-- Jazzy
Here's how it went down. I decided to get a pedicure and grabbed the bright glittery red 'Sarah' shade to jazz up my piggies.
The stylist at my local nail salon didn't so much as bat an eyelash at the fact that I had brought my own. In fact, as I cozied into the massage chair and thought about it, it increases the margins ever so slightly for customers to provide their own supplies. So if the nasty chemicals in salon brand polishes (OPI, Essie, etc) aren't enough reason for you to BYO three- or five-free colors, think about supporting the small business owners and low-wage workers who have to touch all manner of weird feet things, ew.
Back to the Zoya. I love the color. It's a bright, warm, pinky red with gold shimmer and glitter. Perfect for holiday, or your inner 5-year-old who loves sparkly things. Of your real 5-year-old, since Zoya doesn't have any of the 'Toxic Five' in its formula: formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and camphor.
The Zoya brush is a wee small, at least compared to my giant big toenail, but the stylist was plenty skilled to make sure the polish went on smoothly and evenly. Two coats looked great, so under the dryer I went.
Now I wasn't smart enough, when I bought the nail polish, to think about the fact that the top coat and base coat at the salon have just the same junk in them as everything else. I have read or heard somewhere something about 'shrinkage' when you use a five-free lacquer with other high-chemical polishes, so we'll see what happens over the next couple weeks of showers, slippers, the occasional workout and other general wear and tear.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the review!
-- Jazzy
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Thank you, universe
Sometimes the universe brings you gifts that are just too good, you know?
Gisele Bundchen showed up in my FB news feed twice yesterday. This photo was one of them:
Where to begin...there's a lot to hate on here, since the whole thing reeks of privilege and narcissism. I'm not going to help matters, but what I'm concerned with has nothing to do with Gisele's perfect hair, flawless beauty or impossible figure.
It has to do with the baby.
If memory serves, that's baby Vivian. How old is she now? It looks like she might be nursing, but we don't know for sure. Doesn't matter. What does matter is that this baby has been caught in the middle of a very, very toxic publicity stunt, literally at the hands of her mother.
Maybe the aesthetician isn't really painting Gisele's nails. Maybe the hair stylists had already done Gisele's hair, and the whole thing is just a staged look at how the mega rich multitask (the lighting is what's tipping me off, plus the fact that there just happened to be a photographer hanging around with the beauty squad). But the message behind the imagery doesn't change, does it?
Mrs. Brady got a lot of praise and support in the comments attached to the photo. I didn't read all 3,000+ comments, but for the sake of the argument let's guess that the point of this photo is to show how hands-on she is as a parent, how she doesn't let her globe trotting life/career interfere with parenting. Ok. But you want me to believe that someone with the resources to have a 'beauty squad' doesn't also have the resources to know what the chemicals in nail polish and hair products are doing to her infant?
Did we not just yesterday visit a pretty thorough piece about the effects of common household chemicals on the neurodevelopment of children? Click here to see it again.
Whether you agree or not, a photo like this has far-reaching implications. Just skim through the comments to see for yourself. Many, many women thanking Gisele for being not just a model, but a role model. Folks would be singing a very different tune (and bearing torches and pitchforks) if there was a cigarette somewhere in that scene. But no one seems to mind that little Viv has no choice but to breath in all the nasty fumes from the nail and hair products that the beauty squad is yielding. Last time I checked, that wasn't good parenting.
-- Jazzy
Did we not just yesterday visit a pretty thorough piece about the effects of common household chemicals on the neurodevelopment of children? Click here to see it again.
Whether you agree or not, a photo like this has far-reaching implications. Just skim through the comments to see for yourself. Many, many women thanking Gisele for being not just a model, but a role model. Folks would be singing a very different tune (and bearing torches and pitchforks) if there was a cigarette somewhere in that scene. But no one seems to mind that little Viv has no choice but to breath in all the nasty fumes from the nail and hair products that the beauty squad is yielding. Last time I checked, that wasn't good parenting.
-- Jazzy
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