If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Celebrity Hairstylist Jamal Hamadi is inviting you to spend the night with him @ Vert, a new eco-chic boutique.  In addition to delicious treats and goodies, you’ll get a chance to mix and mingle with people who believe in ecologically sound beauty.

The Hamadi line uses 100% essential oils and plant extracts, completely biodegradable and absolutely luxurious! 

Always tested on actresses, not on animals!  Learn more about natural hair care, get special gifts and have a great time. 

Details: August 8, 2008  7 p.m.

Fee: $30

Place: 1121 Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice

Send me pictures!!

Shu Uemura’s Summer 2008 collection, Hana-Bi

Hana-Bi, Japanese for fireworks, literally translated as flower-fire!  Isn’t that awesome…?! In Japan there’s always a link to nature and with summertime almost here, it’s time for Shu Uemura’s limited edition collection.  Every year a festive array of beauty items are selected to commemorate Mr. Uemura’s 1983 opening of the beauty boutique in Omotesando, Tokyo.  I think I can see it in my mind’s eye, I must admit I spent much more time walking the streets of Harajuku.  Why oh why is youth wasted on the young?!

25th Anniversary! and core values

This year is extra-special because it is the 25th Anniversary of the opening of the boutique.  A Tokyo based graphic artist, Gweneal Nicolas, was brought in to design the packaging.  Great big splashes of colors bursting all over make me long for warm summer nights.  The three fragrances embody the Shu Uemura core values, nature, science and art.

Three 100% Natural Origin Fragrances using Deapsea water to choose from. 

fleur de terre EDT is a light floral with a woody note, it’s quite an interesting scent

fleur de rose EDT is described as a floral with an amber note

fleur de source EDT is described as serene and cooling

 Three stunning eyeshadow palettes…

Limited Edition, Fleur de Rose Palette

Limited Edition, Fleur de Source Palette

Limited Edition, Fleur de Terre Palette

and a Limited Edition, Shimmer Liquid Eyeliner

Shu Uemura 25th Anniversary Product Reviews coming soon!

I’ve been using for a few weeks — Lavilin Deodorant Cream that is.  I’m done buying whatever’s on sale, or what will look pretty on the bathroom sink, I want something that works and is long-lasting.  This is a revolutionary concept, bye bye daily deodorant duty, you only need to apply Lavilin every few days.

Normally I would apply my regular deodorant in the morning and by night it would be totally ineffective. Lavilin claims to last up to 7 days dependent on lifestyle.  My personal experience has been best when I applied the cream at 5 day intervals.  Isn’t that perfect for travel?  Now you don’t have to bring all that deodorant on vacation with you!  Day 5 is when I noticed odor starting, so to be safe I’ve been reapplying on the fifth morning and every-thing’s worked out perfectly. 

I don’t need ANY other deodorant! the nice part is Lavalin is unscented so it does not interfere with any of your other beauty products.  Apply a small amount of Lavalin Deodorant Cream to your freshly washed underarms and carry on about your business. 

There is no residue at all, perfect for summer sleeveless, strapless wear.    NO parabens, phthalates, aluminum or alcohol. So what is in it?  Essential oils from Chamomile, Arnica and Calendula work with your body to eliminate bacteria. It is in fact bacteria that causes odor, not sweat, eliminating bacteria is vital.  I’ve heard some natural deodorants can leave you wet and sticky but I felt no wetness while using Lavilin.  It is also water resistant so it’s perfect for summer water sports, give it a try some time soon.  With airlines charging for baggage, it’s a great way to minimize your beauty baggie on short trips.

Another great product from Burt’s Bees.  This is the After Sun Soother with Aloe & Linden Flower.  The scent is divine, a MUST try, it’s a fresh scent for spring.  We’ve been spending a lot of time at the beach and although I’m very good about putting sunscreen on the kids, I’m not as dilligent with it for myself.  I haven’t gotten a burn but give me some time, it’s early in the season, I’ve been putting this on AND using a lotion with spf and my arms not only feel better, they look 10x better than before.  A 100% Natural Product.

Find more reviews on TotalBeauty and find out more about CEW 

WHO IS CEW? OVER 4,000 WOMEN WHO WORK IN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY.

Burn that image into your head and next time you go shopping for skincare make sure you look for the Natural Products Association (NPA) seal.  This seal is marking a new era for consumers, no more confusion about what is natural and what is not.

Under the new program, products must follow strict guidelines set out by the Natural Products Association to merit bearing the seal. The criteria include, but are not limited to:

• Product must be made up of at least 95 percent truly natural ingredients or ingredients that are derived from natural sources
• No ingredients with any potential suspected human health risks
• No processes that significantly or adversely alter the purity/effect of the natural ingredients
• Ingredients that come from a purposeful, renewable/plentiful source found in nature (flora, fauna, mineral)
• Processes that are minimal and don’t use synthetic/harsh chemicals or otherwise dilute purity
• Non-natural ingredients only when viable natural alternative ingredient are unavailable and only when there are absolutely no suspected potential human health risks

 I am super excited about this program because buying products is very confusing, consumers tend to think the term, natural, is being regulated but it is not.  This seal is really going to help people make choices in skincare so be sure to look for it.  Find out more at the NPA website.

The FDA has posted a warning about Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream, marketed by MOM Enterprises, Inc.  The product was marketed to help nursing mothers heal cracking nipples from nursing but it has been revealed that some of the ingredients are harmful, specifically chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol.

Chlorphenesin relaxes skeletal muscle and can depress the central nervous system and cause slow or shallow breathing in infants. Phenoxyenthanol, a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications, can also depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants. Mothers and caregivers should seek immediate medical attention if their child shows signs and symptoms of a decrease in appetite, difficulty in awakening, limpness of extremities or a decrease in an infant’s strength of grip and a change in skin color.

I’m incredibly shocked by all this, how could something designed specifically for the nursing community cause such harm?  My experience in breastfeeding comes from nursing my three children. I breastfed exlusively until they were about 10 months old and then paired with mushed table foods until 18 months/2 years.  I can’t think of a more rewarding experience.  I continuously thought, why take a chance with plastic bottles and nipples, not to mention formula, when nature has given me all I need.  It takes an extraordinary amount of effort to breastfeed and I truly believe motherhood is a calling because of it. 

At the same time there is little real information out there, I was always skeptical so I steered clear from all of the creams I was sent and given at the hospital.  I mean seriously, my ancestors were not that pampered, I come from tough folk so I was determined to do things the hard way with no intervention and I want to testify that it is possible to overcome.

All three breastfeeding experiences were different, with boy2001 I was bursting with milk, I had to have a collage of towels under me as I slept because if I rolled on my belly I would wake up in a puddle of milk.  Many people use plastic liners which stops the seeping into your mattress but creates a puddle so I prefer about ten thick towels collage style.  Ridiculous but effective, I could just remove the soiled towel(s) the next morning.  I had much less milk with each babe but still more than enough to feed one at a time.

I was blessed to have all three babes at a local hospital that was very small and personal.  The nurse asked me while in labor if I was going to breast or bottle feed and she made a BIG notation that I wanted to breast feed. I had no idea what to expect when they kept coming in shaking me to make me feed. 

They were quite rough and demanding but explained to me that I had to get the milk going.  I was so worried because I didn’t have much milk at first but they assured me if I kept at it there would be no problem.  So, I kept on feeding him and worrying and it hurt and I couldn’t believe the pain and saw no results but he was providing evidence that he was being nourished so I kept on.  The cracks, the soreness and pressure, it was all too much.  The first two weeks was pure agony but I perservered and got through.

I took showers every few hours and rinsed off.  I wasn’t using deodorant much as I nursed on my side on the sofa and in bed and I didn’t want all that chemical smell up their noses… have you noticed how close your armpits are to your breasts??  you can imagine I needed frequent showers.  I also didn’t use anything on my breasts, no soap or cream.   I would bring the baby in with me usually after their belly buttons dried up, as none of my children tolerated being put down and I indulged them and myself and after a few weeks my nipples realized their reality and toughened up and it didn’t hurt anymore. 

The purpose of this post is to make myself available if you have any questions, feel free to comment or email me if you prefer.  I know this is a beauty blog, but I also like to cover health issues, and I feel strongly that this is a very important one for society.  The best thing I found while nursing is less is more.  If your nipples get sore, wash off, pat dry and expose to air and a little sunlight.  (this is also great to combat diaper rash)  Are you going to do this while running around, no, you need some time for yourself until your body can recuperate naturally and then you can re-immerse yourself in the social circuit that also means not answering your door if people drop by unannounced (my pet peeve #1). 

If you’re reading this and are with child or have a new baby congratulations and best wishes!! 

 To the men, this is your time to shine, it’s hard to keep a perfect house, cook dinners, run to the grocery store, snuggle with babes and smile while keeping all the fingernails cut and tracking outfits somewhere between the hamper, machines, diaper bag, dresser drawers or bitty body.  Setting a joyful tone in the home is a great gift my husband sometimes provides and it goes such a long way.  Help when you can, and appreciate the enormity of the undertaking, especially at first but even in the years to come it’s usually not as easy as it may seem.

Soon I will post pictures of my Rose Garden, I’ve been tending it gingerly waiting for my rose crop to reward me with the slightest reciprocity for my hours of attention.  It takes a lot to grow roses, they are prone to lots of leaf diseases and infestations, not to mention little ones that want to make mommy a bouquet and cut down to the root with a sweet smile.

Weather it’s bugs or kids there are lots of things that can go wrong with a rose garden.  That’s why I was astounded to find out that the creams I’ve been slathering on use only Damask rose oil — it takes 60,000 roses to make a single ounce of Damask rose oil!! 

Berwick Balancing Day Cream is luxurious but it’s also necessary luxe because it has more than 300 organic compounds and is tolerated by all skin types.  Berwick provides Natural Beauty with  a scent (rose-y of course) and texture that could command a much higher price tag. 

I did not take it along on my trip making my homecoming that much better.  Everything’s coming up roses at Berwick with pore minimizing and even skin tone with a light-weight, hydrating formula.  It’s a great first step in the morning to prep your face for makeup or alone for a dressed down day.  Want one more especially noteworthy fact?  the first ingredient in all Berwick products is rose water.  You’ve GOT to give this line a try.

Lash Out against cosmetics companies

Some people around me have told me in the past not to lash out, but I just couldn’t help myself in this case. NO, I didn’t snap, it’s just that I’ve been in my little rut of mascaras, I tried something last month, but what can I say, sometimes new information comes out and you just have to act on it.  For the past few days I’ve been using a new mascara that gives me pretty long lashes effectively AND safe!

Pure Soul Mascara creates luscious lashes that are soft and flexible, no rock hard lashes here!  The application is very light, perfect for every day use but at the same time this is not your everyday mineral cosmetics line. I learned that from the super-cute afterglow vegan kabuki brush I use every day - it’s holding up beautifully by the way.

Back to the Pure Soul Mascara, I even went without taking it off to sleep with no problem.  It didn’t irritate my contact lensed eyes at all.  No smudges on my face or pillow and absolutely no clumps.  A pure joy to wear and I’m even happier to report a company that cares about women’s health.  I used to blindly trust that what is out on the market has been tested and deemed safe but that is def NOT the case.

Organic cosmetics are all the rage right now, there are a lot of choices out there, but like everything else - you get what you pay for.  As a prestige brand, afterglow not only chooses the most natural and safe cosmetics available, they carefully select the source of those ingredients.  Certified Organic Ingredients are used whenever possible. 

Check your makeUP bags please…

Have you ever thought about the chemicals that are in your cosmetics?  are they safe, any side effects, we’ve all heard the loooong disclaimers on the medications advertised on tv, but that is not true with cosmetics.  Just some pretty women modeling the product with very little actual information about the manufacturing process or chemicals used to make the cosmetics.  I for one don’t want them to get away with that anymore, I love that afterglow lists out the ingredients used to make each product!  Speaking of ingredients…

If you’ve got your make up bag handy, does your current mascara contain Thimerosal?  If so it is a mercury-containing organic compound that has been banned around the world but NOT in the US!! Minnesota is the only state so far to ban intentionally added mercury in cosmetics.  “Mercury does cause neurological damage to people even in tiny quantities” said Sen. John Marty.  So check your cosmetics labels, and be sure to replace with something that is safe like pure soul.

Visit afterglow cosmetics  for the best all natural cosmetics, get pretty with safe cosmetics.  Pure Soul Mascara is available in two shades, mink (brown) and onyx (black).  Get glow-ing!

afterglow cosmetics are:

gluten-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free, synthetic dye-free, perfume-free, mercury-free, petrochemical-free, phthalate-free, mineral oil-free, and tar-free!