Be on the lookout!

Mychelle is well-known for their cutting edge dermaceutical line of skincare but now they are branching out with a line of cream-based mineral makeup. They will have a cream foundation, concealer, blush, eyeshadow and peptide-based lip colors and will be out in stores sometime next month.
They were debuted at a recent trade show in Anaheim, to enthusiastic response.
"This will revolutionize mineral makeup" said one show attendee.
I can't wait to try them, as a mineral makeup junkie I have tried every product I could get my hands on. I especially love cream products for cheeks and the careful formulations are safe even for oilier skin conditions.
The Mychelle website store is temporarily closed while they launch new packaging and updated formulations which include more organic ingredients.
I can't wait to see the new and improved Mychelle, complete with cosmetics!

It's Back!!!

The Dr. Hauschka SPF 15 spray is back just in time for Spring!
This is the one and only product ever recalled by WALA and I was really sad to see it go. Now it's back, with a new formulation and better spray-a-bility (the clumping that some people experienced before was the reason it was recalled, although my bottle pumped just fine)
This product is perfect for short days in the sun (for me it would be about 2 1/2 hours before I would have to cover up or find shade) and it's great for getting sunscreen on wiggly kids.
I have pale skin and tattoos to protect so I also rely on a linen button down and straw hat to help keep me fully protected but for days when I want to bare my shoulders this is what I will reach for.

This is What a Feminist Looks Like...

I have been told before that what I do for a living is shallow, superficial and un-feminist. I’ve always disagreed. There is nothing wrong with wanting to face the world looking your very best, healthy and beautiful.

As a makeup artist and esthetician it is my job to help women to become the best version of themselves and it is an honor to be trusted to touch someone’s face.

Everyone I’ve ever met has a love-hate relationship with their appearance and despite all the staring into the mirror; they often don’t see their own best features. It is great to tell someone they have lovely eyelashes or great bone structure or beautiful lips and see the look of surprise on their face.

“Me? They say? No…” But it’s true. They just can’t see past their flaws and see the good things that everyone else can see.

I am a Peacekeeper Cause-metics demonstrator which means that I get the chance to not only educate people on all of the wonderful causes PK supports but also help them choose the right color.

I find that the products tend to look slightly different in the tubes than they do on the lips so whenever possible I apply the colors for them. (After sanitizing the products and using a fresh disposable applicator)

Everyone is always amazed when they learn that 100% of after-tax profits are donated to human-rights issues. Like me, they thought they would get around to donating money to causes they believed in at some point…when they had more money. And also like me, they spend money several times a year to purchase new cosmetics.

With Peacekeeper, you can do both. Indulge your girly side and your activist side and know that they are both important and worthwhile.

Peacekeeper Truth Serum Blog

I was recently featured as "Blog of the Week" on the Peacekeeper Cause-metics website, go check it out!!
Speaking of Peacekeeper, I've been meaning to write a blog about one of their lip paints, Paint Me Compassionate. It is a perfect red that looks great alone or under gloss. It has quickly become one of my favorite colors and I'm thrilled to add it to my cosmetics rotation. Needless to say, I was surprised when I learned that this very color had been on a list of lipsticks containing lead.
Here is Peacekeeper's founder, Jody Weiss's response to that claim, which of course, is untrue.

what is in peacekeeper’s lipstick?

§ beeswax is produced from the hives of honey bees.

§ carnauba wax is derived from the leaves of a brazilian plant called the carnauba palm.

§ candelilla wax is derived from the leaves of the candelilla shrub which grows in the southern united states and mexico.

§ shea butter is extracted from the fruit of the shea tree. shea butter has strong moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties.

§ castor oil is an evergreen shrub that has been used medicinally for about 4,000 years. castor oil contains lectins which are carbohydrate binding proteins.

§ jojoba oil is derived from the jojoba plant. it is a lipid with high levels in fatty acids and is considered a oleochemical or a chemical derived from biological oils and fats.

§ grapeseed oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the seeds of vitis vinifera grapes. grapeseed oil possesses regenerative ingredients for the skin such as high levels of linoleic acid, anti-oxidants, vitamin c, vitamin e, beta-carotene, omega 3-6-9 and other skin revitalizing ingredients.

§ vitamin e is a fat-soluable antioxidant called tocopherol. antioxidants like vitamin e play a big role in protection against free radicals which contribute to chronic illnesses.

§ mica is a silicate mineral from the earth whose name comes from the latin word micare, which means "shine".

§ carmine is a pigment derived from carminic acid from the scales of certain insects such as the cochineal. carmine is a red color alternative to synthetic fd&c coloring.

§ titanium dioxide is the natural occurring oxide of titanium, a substance mined from the earth. titanium dioxide can be found in toothpastes and other food substances as well.

§ iron oxides consist of sixteen known compounds of either oxides or hydroxides and oxidehydroxides. iron oxide yields pigments which are used in cosmetics. they are considered non-toxic.

§ ultramarines also are found in the earth and are considered to be non-toxic.

Hello Spring, Goodbye Winter!

Today is officially the first day of Spring. I have been spending weeks reorganizing my closets, putting away the things I wore during the colder months and bringing out clothes more suitable for warmer weather.
I take a similar approach to my skin care as well. The beginning of a new season is the perfect time to re-evaluate your products and the condition of your skin.
The skin does not have a set type that never changes, but rather different conditions that respond to internal (stress, diet) and external (weather, things that come into contact with the skin) factors.
Even though my calendar tells me it's Spring, my body still feels stuck in Winter, I've had a cold for the past three weeks, but thanks to a few great holistic products I'm on the road to recovery. Here are a few products I am currently using and a few that I will be adding to my regimen for Spring:

1. Grateful Body D*Congest/RX:
This product is great for relieving congestion in the chest and sinuses, both places I am currently stuffed up. I rub it on my chest at night before I go to sleep and throughout the day as needed.

Ingredients:

Organic or ethically wildcrafted herbal infusions of pleurisy root, cowslip root, astragalus, white horehound, elecampane, vervain, seneca snakeroot, cardamom, horseradish root, wild cherry bark, licorice and nettles in a base of organic or expeller pressed oils of sesame, sweet almond, extra virgin olive, golden jojoba & oregano, extracts of organic turnips, persimmon and ginger, extract of yellow mustard seed, organic or wild essential oils of green myrtle, hyssop, camphor, cypress, basil, eucalyptus, rosemary, thyme & lavender, organic sage & rosemary extract, grapefruit seed extract, vitamin E.


2. Essential Oils:
I probably would have been better sooner had I remembered to use a humidifier during the night. Every morning I have been waking up feeling so much worse, except for this morning because before I went to bed I put a blend of pine, lavender and eucalyptus into a humidifier and ran it all night while I slept. I finally got a good night's sleep and woke up feeling like I am finally kicking this lingering cold.

3. Earth Mama Angel Baby-- Angel Baby Bottom Balm:
This is a soothing salve that is great for other things besides baby tushies! I have been applying it to my chapped and raw nose and lips and they feel so much better, despite repeated nose-blowing.

Ingredients:

Olea europaea (organic olive) oil, Calendula officinalis (organic calendula) extract, Hypericum perforatum (organic St. John’s wort) extract, Stellaria media (organic chickweed) extract, Plantago major (organic plantain extract), Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, Euphorbia antisyphilitica (candelilla), Simmondsia chinensis (organic jojoba) oil, proprietary blend of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and Commiphora myrrha (myrrh) oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E)



4. Dr. Hauschka Rhythmic Night Conditioner, Sensitive:
These are oil-free ampules that are good to use seasonally, during times of extreme stress or when transitioning into using DH from another brand. Texas doesn't have four distinct seasons per se so I use them three times a year, once for each decade I have been alive. I use the RNC Sensitive because I have issues with redness and inflammation. They should be used on a 28-day cycle so I will start using them tonight instead of toner.

Ingredients:

Water/Aqua, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Borago Officinalis (Borage) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria/German Chamomile) Extract, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Extract


5. Enfusia Body Care:
During the colder months I love using shower gels and body moisturizers with a rich, comforting scent, like vanilla. But when the weather turns warmer I enjoy the invigorating aroma of mint. Enfusia products are perfect for year round use and come in all my favorite fragrances.

6. Rich Hippie Bliss Perfume Oil:
This is the perfect Spring fragrance, clean fresh citrus and enough rose to be feminine and sexy.

Organic Wear Pressed Powder

It's taken me a while to post this review because my interest in this line waned quite a while ago, but I want to take the time to write about my experience with the Physicians Formula Organic Wear Pressed Powder.
I had high hopes for it initially, the price point is so low and the ingredients are great. I matched the color to my current compact--translucent medium seemed the closest. The wording of the colors threw me off, to my mind translucent means that it offers no real coverage, but is mostly used for setting foundation or concealer and creating a matte finish. I wasn't sure if Translucent Medium meant it would actually be a powder foundation or not.
It turns out that it was a powder foundation and the first time I used it, I was really impressed. It had a soft glowy finish and covered amazingly well.
Once I looked at it in natural light, however I saw how wrong it was. It was far to shiny and highlighted pores and fine lines. It was very similar to the finish I experienced with Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals foundation.
I used to work for BE and I would leave my house feeling beautiful only to find myself blending frantically once I checked my makeup outside in natural light.
However, they were the first mineral makeup I was exposed to and I still believe that minerals are the way to go. Bare Escentuals just isn't the right brand for me.
And it's no wonder they seem similar, here are the ingredients:

Organic Wear

MICA, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS SEED OIL*, ZEA MAYS (CORN) STARCH*, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, KAOLIN, CALCIUM CARBONATE, OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL*, GLYCERIN, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL*, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, CINNAMIC ACID, SODIUM LEVULINATE, TOCOPHEROL, WATER. MAY CONTAIN: IRON OXIDES, TITANIUM DIOXIDE. * PRODUCED FROM ORGANIC FARMING


Bare Minerals

Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica, Iron Oxide
*Bare Minerals Foundation May Also Contain:
Titanium Dioxide


It is definitely the mica that gives it the bizarre finish. It is wonderful in highlighters and shadows but terrible as a foundation. BE recommends that you follow up with the corn-starch based Mineral Veil and *surprise!* PF has a corn-starch based finishing powder. Although mica is, again the first ingredient leading me to believe that there is just no way to avoid a waxy-shiny finish with the Organic Wear powder products.
Also, if you'll notice that the BE products have a much shorter ingredient list since they don't add the gratuitous organic ingredients. I call them gratuitous because they could have a very similar product without adding any of the small amounts of botanicals that they did, leading me to believe that they just wanted to have a line that they could call "organic."
I really don't want to use more than one powder product, not only do I not want to take the time but I live in a warm climate and don't want to pile on a lot of products. I am very happy with my Glominerals foundation and you absolutely do not need a finishing powder. It is three times as much as the PF powder but once you factor in using a separate finishing powder, it's not much of a bargain time or money-wise.

Bottom Line:

My overall opinion of these products isn't very high, but I still like that companies such as this one are making more natural options widely available, I think that is very important. This line may work beautifully for some people, and most definitely Bare Minerals fans will love this foundation and it is about 1/3 of the price.
When I returned the concealer and powder that I bought I was hoping to exchange for the tinted moisturizer, but it was out of stock. If I do try it I will review it on makeup alley and link it here, to avoid yet ANOTHER post about this line.

Steaz Green Tea Drinks

"Steaz is a revolutionary sparkling green tea, " steaped " full of flavor and nutrition, made from the finest natural ingredients in the world."

I was gifted a case of Steaz Energy drinks recently and although I am not at all a fan of energy drinks I couldn't resist trying a few. Ok...one or two per day. They are a tasty sparkling green tea drink with ceylon, guarana, acai and yerba mate and contain 80mg of natural caffeine per serving with one and a half servings per can.
The average cup of coffee has about 135mg of coffee , black tea has about 1/3 that amount and between 200-300mg per day is considered "moderate" daily caffeine intake.
I usually only have one cup of black tea in the morning and my only other source of caffeine is the occasional piece of chocolate.
I am hypoglycemic and for some reason every time I have had a Steaz energy drink I have had a major blood sugar crash about an hour later.
The upside is that the caffeine sources in this drink produce a clear, lucid stimulant effect completely unlike the scattered, shaky, jittery feeling I get from coffee. (the reason I drink tea!)
I feel very centered and full of ideas after drinking this drink which I think comes from the yerba mate, since friends of mine swear by it and describe a similar experience.

Bottom line:

I may drink one of these occasionally, making sure to also have a snack. They are organic and have great ingredients and seem like a very good company. They also make green tea-based sodas so when I want less caffeine I may try these instead.

Retail Nightmares

When I lived in San Francisco, I had four different jobs on one street: Chestnut Street in the Marina District. One day spa and three beauty boutiques.
I loved working at two of them and really hated working at the other two. At the job that would be my last on Chestnut Street (mainly because I had run out of places to work there) I had what is easily the worst retail experience of my life.
And that is saying A LOT as I have had many memorable experiences both in spa work and regular retail.
I'm always leery of salespeople who are obviously on commission, you can practically see the dollar signs in their eyes. I'm just not mindlessly competitive enough to thrive in an environment like that. I also sympathize way too much for the consumer so I just can't manipulate someone into buying more than they say they can afford.
Conversely, if I am passionate about a product and free to be honest with the customer in terms of what would work best for them, then I can sell like crazy, and I enjoy it.
But at this particular job we were trained to be pushy and have an answer for every protest a customer may have. I was already unhappy there and my enthusiasm for their products was quickly waning (always a sure sign it's time to move on) but I decided to give it one more solid try before giving notice.
One late morning I was in the shop by myself and a young woman in her early twenties came in. ("Compliment SOMETHING! Her shoes, her bag, her hair, ANYTHING!" I had been told, to 'break the ice.')
I desperately scanned her possessions and appearance for something I could comment on. I had already smiled and said hello and she didn't seem very receptive. Not seeing anything obvious I could compliment, I finally noticed she was wearing support hose.
Kind of weird, but unusual so therefore I could prove to her that I was paying attention. Plus, I have a natural tendency towards spider veins and could probably benefit from a good, sturdy pair of constricting pantyhose.
"I like those...I could probably use a pair" I said gesturing towards her tights.
"My...prosthetic legs?" She asked, puzzled.
Yes. Her prosthetic legs. She left without buying anything and I was fired a few days later.

Rich Hippie

I've preached for years to anyone who would listen that natural doesn't mean having to give up beauty, glamour or esthetics.
This line, by Organic Pharmacy proves my point. It is gorgeous. Very, very sleek packaging, beautiful colors, and...a very high price point.
So if you're feeling flush after tax time, wander over and pick up a few new colors or try their Spring look kit which includes a Loose Powder, Nude Eyeshadow Palette, Liquid Shimmer Highlighter Silver Ice, Peach Blusher, Nude Lipstick and High Shine Lip Plump in Crystal.
As for me, the product that tempts me the most is the liquid shimmer highlighter
in Pink Ice.

*I could not find an ingredient list on their website.

MyChelle 20% Off Sale!

MyChelle Dermaceuticals is having an "Old Packaging Blowout" sale: 20% off while supplies last.
I have always loved MyChelle products, but let's be honest-- the packaging isn't the most exciting.
I do like that they spend their money on amazing ingredients instead of slick advertising and luxe packaging, but I have always felt that the packaging should stand out more on the shelves to attract more interest.
I am excited to see what Myra has come up with!

Blend, blend, blend

Any makeup artist will tell you that the secret to great makeup is to blend, blend, blend. The trick is deciding what to USE to blend? Fingers are great because your body heat will help warm and blend your foundation or concealer, but sometimes I really do prefer to use a sponge. My favorite was the Glominerals finishing sponge, a great, soft flocked sponge. The problem with it, though is after being washed a time or two it splits right in half, and each half is too thin to really use alone.
Lately, I've been using a foundation sponge from Sonia Kashuk that I am really loving. I searched for a link to it but I couldn't find one. It appears to be part of the Spring '08 line for Target. It's a handy two pack and comes in a hard plastic case. They are non-latex and close to an inch thick. They are really great for both applying and blending mineral makeup and it seems that they would work well on liquid foundation as well.
Buying new sponges made me remember reading about the Beauty Blender a while ago so I decided to check it out online. It is tempting to try, however I don't use liquid foundation and it seems that this is what this sponge is best for. The price point is really outrageous, $20 which makes it both more and less appealing. If anyone has feedback about this sponge, contact me, I'm curious!

Coffeeberry Extract in Skincare?

Try fighting free radical damage from the inside out!
There are always new and more powerful antioxidant ingredients being discovered and inevitably, they end up in anti-aging skincare products. It seems that everyone over the age of 20 is concerned with the damaging effects of free radicals and how to prevent them.
So what do you do if you don't want to switch your skincare products every time a more potent antioxidant is discovered? You can, instead, fight free radical damage from the inside out. I am always a little dubious about "feeding" the skin's surface, I'm never sure how much is actually penetrating.
My two favorite non-beauty "anti-aging" products are Bluebonnet's Age-Less Skin Formula supplements and Yogi Tea's Berry Antioxidant tea. Both of these companies are my favorites in their categories. If you open my pantry you will find box after box of Yogi tea and if you look at all my supplements, at least 80% are made by Bluebonnet.

*TEA:

I usually avoid berry teas because of their bitter aftertaste but this tea is the exception it is actually really yummy and caffeine-free so it's a great evening choice, it's also great iced. This tea contains EVERY great antioxidant you could ask for, here is the product info:

Find a personal fountain of youth with a cup of berry antioxidant. Our fragrant blend combines acai, goji and coffee berries ot help renew your youthful energy and spirit. This blend is specially formulated to combat the damaging effects of free radicals in the body, which can accelerate aging. We then add elderberry and jiao gu lan to help energize and fight fatigue. With a vibrant burst of berriy flavors in every sip this delectable tea is a tasty way to stay young.

Ingredients: organic rooibos leaf, organic hibiscus flower, jiao gu lan, natural boysenberry flavor, organic gotu kola, organic Siberian ginseng, acai berry, organic blueberry flavor, goji berry, coffee berry, organic raspberry flavor, organic elderberry, stevia leaf.


*Supplement:

I know the last thing many people want is to take a pill (or another pill) every day but these are vegetarian softcaps and you only need one per day. Product info:

Bluebonnet's Age-Less Skin Formula Capsules contain high quality DMAE, alpha lipoic acid and vitamin C Ester-ascorbyl palmitate. Ascorbyl palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C. Available in easy-to-swallow vegetable capsules for maximum assimilation and absorption.

Ingredients: Vitamin C Ester 500mg, DMAE 100mg, Alpha Lipoic Acid 50mg, Kosher vegetable capsules, magnesium stearate.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Concealer Review

I have finally tried the Physicians Formula Organic wear line.
After some consideration I finally decided on the pressed powder and the concealer.
I wanted to get the light color, but all they had in stock was soft yellow and soft green. Yellow-toned anything looks terrible on my pink skin so I went with green. I have always avoided colored concealers, writing them off as too gimmicky.
But the soft green looks just like a soothing cream I used to use when I was doing salon work. It contained kaolin clay which has a green tint and covered redness amazingly well. I don't know if that was necessarily what it was intended for, but it was a pleasant side effect. People tend to get really concerned when they see (even normal) post-waxing redness and it takes away from the effect of the finished brow, so I really loved that product. (whose name I can not for the life of me remember.)
When I took the concealer out of the package I noticed that the bullet extended above the top of the case. It didn't retract any further into the tube. That was slightly annoying to me and became even more so when, the first time I tried it, the top 1/2" broke off. I wrote it off as a bad batch, put the nub in a sample cup and applied it with a brush and blended with a sponge. It removed all traces of redness from my skin, which is amazing since I have so much pinkness to my skin tone. I was very impressed. The texture was incredible, smooth and easy to blend. The problem was, it turned my skin from ruddy to a gray corpse-like tone. So it has to be followed by a product with color. I used the Organic Wear Pressed Powder (that I will write a separate entry for) and in my bathroom it looked beautiful. I did not notice any offensive odor, like some reviews have mentioned.
I took my mirror outside and it was a mess. Very cakey and artificial-looking and it settled into every place I would have rather it not.
I'm not giving up hope on this concealer, though. I am going to exchange the one I bought today and hope I just got a bad one. I may skip the green and get the light if they have it back in stock or I will experiment with using my little broken nub with a tinted moisturizer or liquid foundation. I think the light concealer would be amazing when paired with a translucent powder, I'll keep you posted!

*Photos: Top, the products I used in this experiment, photo 1 me before, photo 2 and 3 me with just concealer, photo 4 and 5 me after.

Glominerals and Mineral Fusion--What's the Difference?

When I started with Whole Foods in 2004, I begged them to carry Glominerals.
My job was to help build an esthetics program at their new flagship store and that included mini-facials and makeovers. When I was working in Berkeley I had the opportunity to bring Glominerals into Elephant Pharmacy and I really loved working with them.
The line did so well there that they partnered with Glominerals to create Mineral Fusion for Whole Foods Market. This is one of the things I am most proud about in my career as a holistic esthetician.
So what's the difference? You may notice that they have similar colors and are the exact same price, so why would you choose one over the other? Here is an overview of a few of their differences:

They both have added antioxidants to help protect and boost the health of the skin. However, the each have slightly different antioxidants:

Mineral Fusion:

• White tea – contains flavonoids - Boosts the immune function of skin cells and protects against the damaging effects of the sun (Ingredient name: Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract)

• Red tea – contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that work to tighten and smooth the skin. (Ingredient name: Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract)

• Antileukine 6® – a blend of phosphatidyls, lipoyl lysine vitamin A, E and CO Q10. Controls photo-aging, balances hydration and protects the integrity of DNA. (Ingredient name: Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract)

• Pomegranate – contains polyphenols and ellagic acid found in pomegranate are highly efficient in fighting free radicals. Also contains ellagic acid for healing the skin. (Ingredient name: Punica Granatum)

mineral fusion cosmetics offer flawless coverage while giving you the benefits of UV and antioxidant protection. All of our products are noncomedogenic and provide moisture balancing benefits, allowing the skin to function normally. mineral fusion™ is your solution for skin conditions such as acne, rosacea and hyperpigmentation, providing healing and calming benefits.

Antileukine 6

Antileukine is a proprietary blend of ingredients found in mineral fusion cosmetics.

It works to control photo aging, balances hydration, and protects DNA integrity. It is a blend of Phosphatidyls, Lipoyl Lysine, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and CO Q10.

• Phosphatidyls - strengthens the skin structure
• Lipoyl Lysine - moisturizing amino acid
• Vitamin A - helps to improve skin smoothness
• Vitamin E - improves water binding ability
• Co Q10 - prevents free radical damage

Results

• Prevents damage due to excessive sun exposure & physiological aging
• Anti-wrinkle
• Protects skin metabolism (BPF-Biological Protecting Factor)

Glominerals:

The Glominerals team team developed an exclusive formulation by selecting the best quality pharmaceutical-grade ingredients including antioxidants, vitamins C, A, K, E and green tea extracts to prevent free-radical damage and improve the health and condition of the skin

Another difference is the ingredients. Mineral Fusion does not contain parabens or lakes.
Lakes are coloring agents and can be either naturally or synthetically derived. This is why MF has a much more muted color-palette. This is also why you won't find every Glo product at Whole Foods, not everything makes it past their quality standards team.
I did hear a rumor that Glominerals was updating their ingredients and possibly taking out parabens but I haven't found any ingredient changes online, only the same ones that are used in the foundation I own:

Ingredients
Titanium Dioxide, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate Zinc Oxide, Bismuth Oxychloride, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmate (vitamin C), Phytonadione (vitamin K), Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. May Contain Iron Oxides, CI 77499, Carmine. Vitamin C, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Vitamin E

*If I find out that they have changed ingredients, I will edit to add the new formulation.

The last difference is the packaging. They both come in loose and compact forms, but the MF loose foundation comes with an attached sponge-top applicator. I still use a brush with it, however, so that's not a huge selling point with me although it does look good.
The MF compact does not come with any kind of sponge while the Glominerals compact does. The MF compacts are sleek and flat and the Glo compacts are classically rounded. The Glo packaging is silver and black while the MF packaging is a coppery-bronze color.

Bottom Line:
I've been using Glominerals for a long time and I have a soft spot for them. I really do hope that their ingredients continue to evolve and I don't doubt that they will. Both lines perform similarly although I do like the MF tinted moisturizers slightly better than the Glo version. But for foundation and eye and lip colors I still prefer Glominerals.

Eco-friendly Feminine Product That WORKS!

I was a late bloomer, I didn't get my period until I was fourteen. I started out with pads then quickly progressed to tampons, I just hated the way the pads felt and living in a hot climate makes them feel even grosser.
I never really thought there could be any alternative to using tampons even though they had their downsides, the biggest being the severe environmental impact of using and discarded so much bleached cotton every month. I did briefly try the Soft Cup and it was terrible. It was hard to remove without spilling, not really re-usable and caused nasty cramps.
It wasn't until after I gave birth to my twins that I really thought about my own choices. I chose to cloth-diaper them because I didn't want so many diapers ending up in our landfills and this made me think about how many tampons I had thrown away over the years. When I worked at Whole Foods we received DivaCups as staff samples and I put it away with all my other products. I was pregnant and my period seemed a million miles away. And it was. Thanks to breastfeeding I didn't have a period from November 2004-June 2007. While on my break from my period I decided to commit to using the DivaCup once it came back.
I did and I have never been happier. It is so easy to use, does not feel uncomfortable, is easy to remove, easy to clean and best of all should last about ten years. Not only am I not throwing away tampons, I'm not even using them so I'm saving A LOT of money. I have a pretty heavy flow and after a little bit of practice it works like a charm.
I know it is becoming more and more popular to skip periods but for me that severely interferes with my own personal rhythms, which are important to me. I feel that having normal cycles is indicative of good health in general and I like being tuned in to my body and the messages it sends me. As much as I've always complained about my period, I missed it after a while. With the DivaCup, it's not nearly as much of a hassle as it used to be. I track my cycles with Cycle Beads and when it is around time for my period I insert the DivaCup in the morning so I won't start suddenly and mess up my clothes. I also love not having to drag several tampons around in my purse.

Organic Confusion

I wanted to post a blog about organics and what that means in cosmetics.
Mineral makeup is a huge trend right now and it's a bit misleading...most powders are mineral-based. (whether it be talc, mica, bismuth, zinc, titanium dioxide, etc.) Liquid makeup is usually water or oil-based and can have mineral or synthetic coloring agents.
So what does that mean when you are looking for a "natural" or "organic" makeup?
Natural will mean that instead of chemical colorants like FD&C colors and synthetic lakes there will be pigments that are derived from plant and mineral sources. Natural can also mean that they avoid preservatives such as parabens and sometimes add anti-oxidants such as pomegranate, green tea and vitamin E to help further protect the skin.
Organic, on the other hand is only referring to the plant ingredients. It just means that any plant ingredients were grown without the use of pesticides. Minerals are mined from the earth and not grown so they can not be labeled organic.
I have discussed this issue a lot when I was working in beauty retail and was motivated to write a blog to clear up some confusion when I read a review about Physicians Formula Organic Wear pressed powder.
The reviewer seemed to think that because it was labeled "organic" and was pressed, not loose like a lot of popular mineral makeup that it was not mineral-based. This line is basically another mineral makeup line with the only difference being that the few plant ingredients are organic. This is not to say that it's not a great thing, I definitely want to avoid nasty pesticides whenever I can, but it worries me that the organic label can be confusing for consumers.

I Am a Peacekeeper!

I first encountered Peacekeeper Cause-metics at Whole Foods Market here in Austin, Texas.
I purchased a lipstick for my mother-in-law and instantly regretted not keeping it for myself!
I was aware of all the great causes Peacekeeper supported but was not prepared for how incredible the products are.
They are as good if not better than the most professional and luxurious cosmetics I have worked with the past ten years.
There is literally a color for everyone in their line and the lipsticks are creamy and long-lasting. They don't always look the same on the lips as they do in the tube, though so they definitely need to be tried on to find the best match.
They also have glosses, nail polish and cuticle oil and they are all wonderful.

My favorites:

Paint me Wise lip paint: This is a beautiful creamy berry that has become my daily staple.

Paint me Empowered lip paint: Empowered looks scary and dark in the tube but it is not much darker than Wise and stays on forever. It creates a great blackberry stain when applied with the fingers and gently blotted.

Unifem gloss: Again, this color looks way different on than in the tube. It is a sheer burgundy and looks great on everyone. I love to put on either Wise or Empowered in the morning then touch up during the day with Unifem. It refreshes the color and adds a soft, not sticky shine.

Luminous nail polish: I can't for the life of me paint my own fingernails without it looking like a toddler applied the color so this is a lifesaver. It's a dewey silvery-white that is subtle enough for daily wear without being boring. It also dries really quickly.

*I love this line so much that I jumped at the chance to work for them. I love being able to talk to women about the products and have them get excited to help support such worthwhile causes. When do you ever basically get a free product for donating to a cause that you believe in?

Jojoba Oil!

One of my beauty staples is organic jojoba oil. It is very similar in molecular structure to our skin's own sebum, or natural oil and is very well received by the skin. It penetrates beautifully without causing breakouts and is one of my secret weapons.
If I am too tired or rushed to do the full DH regimen in the evening here is what I do instead:

1. Put about a quarter-size squirt of jojoba oil in my palm, massage into skin to dissolve makeup and grime from the day.
2. Dip both ends of a q-tip in the oil, use to remove eye makeup.

3. Remove with a warm compress.

4. Spray toner directly onto skin, wipe off with a cotton round. This will get rid of any makeup residue.

5. Spray five squirts of toner into palm, press into skin.

6. Pat any remaining oil around eyes or on the lips.


Here are a few other great uses for jojoba oil:

*Mix with shampoo or conditioner when hair is looking dry and dull or scalp is feeling tight or irritated.
* Use for facial or body massage, mix with essential oils or use alone.
* Use as a moisturizing serum underneath your regular moisturizer during winter months to protect the skin from dry, cold weather.
* Use on an infant to remove scales from cradle cap.
*Apply to eczema or psoriasis patches.
* Mix with salt or sugar to make a body scrub.
*Add to a bath for extra silky skin.