Product Review: Evan Healy French Rose Clay
I had been lusting after Evan Healy’s Green Tea Clay for about a year when I finally discovered it at a small health food store in the West Village. In the year that has passed since I initially learned about the green tea clay, my skin has changed quite a bit; while I experience less inflammatory break outs (how sick is it that I sometimes miss a good whitehead here and there?), I do still deal with quite a bit of clogged pores, blackheads and a monthly visit from the hormonal acne fairy. I saw the box of French Rose Clay next to the originally coveted product and gave it a read. It seemed to me that this mask was the gentler, yet still effective sister of the green tea clay. As I approach my late 20′s, I do worry about over drying and being too harsh on my skin, so I decided to give it a shot.
This mask, containing only kaolin and rhassoul clay, comes in it’s dried powder form and is to be mixed with enough water to create a creamy paste. After it’s mixed, instructions indicate to apply, allow the clay to dry and then rinse. I can definitely appreciate the simplicity of the instructions, but I definitely had no problem making a huge mess of the situation. This finely milled clay has a way of getting all over the place, and I’m still trying to figure out the best way to go about the mixing process (suggestions please!).
After one use my skin was extremely smooth and soft, and after using once or twice a week for a few weeks I’m definitely seeing less blackheads and clogged pores. I’m definitely excited about this product and will continue using it. I hope that it helps me stay clear throughout the impending summer…I don’t miss the whiteheads THAT much.
Thanks for reading!
The Search is Over: Kiss My Face Active Life Deodorant
I’ll never forget this day: I’m in second grade, already the most awkward human on the planet (more than likely wearing rainbow glasses, a troll doll necklace and toting a collection of Far Side comics)….my mom picks me up from school and the first thing she says to me as I get into the car is, “Man, you are RIPE!”. Being 8 years old, I had no idea what she meant, but apparently the day had already come for me to start wearing deodorant. The arrival of my B.O. was as intense as it was abrupt, and growing up in north Texas, elementary-age girls were intended to feel shame if they smelled of anything besides Bath and Body Work’s Sun Ripened Raspberry (the only acceptable alternatives might be Strawberry Splish Splash body spray by Limited Too or Pleasures by Estee Lauder if you’re really sophisticated). It wasn’t long before I was on the hard stuff: Certain Dri. A “prescription strength” deodorant you knew was working when you wanted to rip the itching, burning flesh from your armpits. That’s gotta be healthy.
It wasn’t until high school when I started hearing of the dangers of chemicals in deodorants (actually the first cosmetic I recall hearing of any adverse effects), decided anyone who had a problem with a little natural musk could kindly “F” off and began experimenting with alternatives. Over the past 10 years I’ve tried everything from Tom’s to crystals to pure lemon juice to apple cider vinegar, even modifying my diet to try to subdue the intensity of my B.O. but nothing really cut it. I know it’s a losing battle a lot of us are fighting. Again, I find no problem with moderate B.O. but let’s face it, I’m a make-up artist; I’m in people’s faces with my arms raised quite a bit and I know not everyone feels the way I do.
After being on the crystal for the past year or two and finding “okay” results with that, I decided to pick up Natural Active Life Deodorant by Kiss My Face in Peaceful Patchouli (namaste y’all) and it really is actually doing the trick. The special quality about this particular product is that it utilizes natural vegetable enzymes and clay which neutralize and absorb odor. I’ve been applying right after the shower at night and another coat again in the morning and smelling pretty pleasant for all of my 15 hour days.
Sorry if this was a bit TMI, but I get deodorant questions a lot and I hope this helps!
Thanks for reading,
Product Review: Mineral Hygienics Foundation
A few weeks ago the very generous Customer Service Representative, Erica from Mineral Hygienics (an all-natural cosmetics company based out of Iowa) sent me a set of their foundations, a mineral bronzer and their full coverage kabuki brush.
Honestly, I was a little skeptical to try a mineral foundation (I often find them a bit cakey and shimmery) and a bronzer (they usually just make my extremely pale face look dirty) from a company that I’d never even heard of, but the aforementioned Erica was so sweet and seemed genuinely excited about the product that I decided to give it a shot.
The product is applied just like any other mineral foundation…minimally and with a large, dense brush in circular motions. I also used a concealer brush to cover any additional discolorations. Initially, the product goes on evenly and blends with my skin flawlessly — it looks invisible on the skin with no lines of demarcation, a pleasant change from most powdery, cakey looking mineral foundations that I have a hard time blending. I set the foundation with their Sheer Perfection Mineral Finish, which is completely invisible upon application. Usually mineral foundations will start to blend with my skin’s oils, collect in crevices and look really obvious in more heavily concealed areas.
This foundation wore perfectly all through my 9 hour work day with no need for touch ups. No cakiness, no weird reflective mineral shimmer, just even, beautiful skin.
Mineral Hygienics promises the foundation will improve the condition of your skin, which I was also skeptical of, but since wearing this product I’ve noticed my skin is significantly less oily and I’ve been receiving tons of compliments on it’s evenness and “glow”.
As for the bronzer, it’s really subtle and beautiful not making me look dirty or muddy like all bronzers I’ve tried in the past.
I’ve actually thrown out my Laura Mercier and Bare Minerals foundation in lieu of this foundation and I can’t wait to try more of their products …I know it isn’t always ideal to buy cosmetics online (I’m big on testing and wearing products for a while before I buy), but I do recommend this product for anyone who is looking for a mineral foundation and hasn’t had success with any in the past.
Wearing Mineral Hygienics Foundation, Sheer Perfection Mineral Finish and Cool Kiss Mineral Bronzer, Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara, and Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose.
Thanks again to the lovely Erica and Mineral Hygienics…and thank y’all for reading!
Beauty Bad-ass: Linda Rodin
Being the forever-obstinate rebellious teen-at-heart that I am, I would never admit this to his face, but my dad often times surprises me with his coolness. I can’t believe I’m confessing this, but he was actually the one who introduced me to one of my favorite artists, St. Vincent, has amazing taste in music and films and is always ahead of the game when it comes to the absolute best New York eateries. This is pretty atypical for a dude born in the late 40′s and raised in Texas, specifically on a farm in Abilene. This time his coolness manifests itself by way of sending me this Wall Street Journal article entitled At My Vanity featuring Linda Rodin, founder of RODIN Olio Lusso – one of the most effective and coveted all-natural beauty products on the market. Turns out she, like my dad, is pretty damn awesome for her age.
I unflinchingly aspire to this level of babelihood at age 60.
Check it out:
When stylist-turned-beauty guru Linda Rodin speaks about her best-selling elixir, Olio Lusso, you can’t help but yearn for a drop. “Your skin looks better when it’s dewy and has a little sheen,” said the 63-year-old, whose complexion calls to mind ageless icons like Carmen Dell’Orefice and Lauren Hutton. Unlike so many lab-engineered anti-aging products, Ms. Rodin’s all-natural serum was concocted in her bathroom. “It was just like making spaghetti sauce,” she said. “Only with the best ingredients.”
In 2007, the Manhattan native—who had worked as a stylist with Madonna, Herb Ritts and Richard Avedon—began trekking the globe searching for the best holistic beauty products she could find. The result: A potion for the face containing 11 essential oils including those from jasmine, argan and rose hip seed. Since its release in 2008, the mixture has occupied the medicine cabinets of famous beauties such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Laetitia Casta, Julianne Moore and a spate of Victoria’s Secret models. (One celebrity client routinely pours an entire bottle of face oil on her feet.)
Ms. Rodin, who personally tests and approves each of her products (made locally in small batches), now has five offerings: blended oils for the face, body and hair, as well as a hand-and-body cream and lip balm—carried by luxury retailers including Barneys New York and Colette in Paris.
At the moment, she’s working on the addition of two new items to her coveted stock: a facial cleanser and an “intoxicating and heady” perfume that will debut in May. “It’s heavy-duty jasmine,” Ms. Rodin said. “It’s almost illegal.” We caught up with the makeup-averse Chelsea resident backstage at a Victoria’s Secret shoot.
I haven’t worn makeup since I turned 30, except for lipstick which I never leave the house without. It always brightens your face. I hate glossy lips and only wear matte colors like Guerlain’s Rouge 129. My favorite pencil is Shu Uemura’s 365 lip liner, which was discontinued. Now I use a bright pink one from Makeup For Ever called Aqua Lip 16C.
I’m obsessed with the many different bio [organic] shops in Paris where I always find a natural brown soap called Savon D’Alep. It looks homemade and doesn’t even smell particularly good but I’ve been hooked on it for five years.
For my daily regime, I wet my face with warm water in the morning, pat it dry and put my oil on while the skin is still damp. At night, I wash my face with a cleanser like Cetaphil and repeat. I don’t re-cleanse after sleeping.
Each of the ingredients in my face oil has a certain property. Rose hip seed treats sunspots, primrose treats rashes and calendula oil from the marigold flower is good for healing inflammation and irritation.
I collect beauty products wherever I go. From the airport in St. Barts to a tiny shop in Panama that sells food and soda where I found a delicious-smelling talcum powder called Raquel Body Powder. I was attracted to the color of the box.My least favorite scent is gardenia. It’s so sweet! I had a friend who wore Fracas and I couldn’t be around her. I love heady, sexy scents like jasmine and neroli.
The most overrated thing is expensive towels for drying your face. Thick towels are too heavy and leave your skin bone dry. A moist face absorbs product better. I buy cheap Indian cotton towels from Dress Shoppe on Second Avenue. They’re 10 bucks and never get fluffy, but they’re good because they’re not absorbent
In the summer I use any sunblock over 20 SPF from Dermalogica. I used to be a Bain de Soleil girl way back, but I ruined my skin. Now I’m neurotic in the hot sun. I cover up in a burqa.
My new healthy habit is drinking green juice made with kale, spinach, ginger, lemon and celery. It’s like having a salad. All the models drink it, which makes their breath stink, but it’s delicious.
I prefer dark nails like Chanel Vamp and Essie Wicked or nothing at all. Jacqueline Padilha is a genius Brazilian manicurist who comes to my house.
My secret weapon is Fran Wilson’s Moodmatcher lipstick. I’ve been using it since I was 16. It’s green and you can put it under everything. It keeps your lips colored even after sleeping.
A common myth is that oil makes your hair greasy. Bob Recine, who created our formula has a motto: just a teeny drop every morning. It has juniper and rosemary and smells divine.
I’ve always maintained a thin figure. I don’t drink water except at night. My liquid is a cappuccino every morning and two glasses of wine at night.
My guilty pleasure is Lindt’s extra creamy milk chocolate. That, and I always have Sea’s Gift seaweed in my bag. They’re better than potato chips.
To relax, I see David McCabe, a private massage therapist. He’s fantastic. You feel like you’re back in the womb.
My biggest beauty indulgence is a monthly Triad Medical facial from Dr. Colbert. It’s so luxurious but it only takes 20 minutes. First they clean your skin with a little suction that I call a mini vacuum cleaner, then they do a treatment that feels like your skin is getting popped and they finish with a minor peel. You walk out literally looking 10 years younger.
I’ve never colored my hair. I’ve been using Clairol Shimmer Highlights shampoo for blondes and white hair for years. I see Leonard Golino for a blowout every week.
The secret to aging gracefully is maintenance. Botox is fine in moderation, but the more you do the older you look. You can’t chase youth. You’ll just look old with a facelift.
—Edited from an interview by Nicole Berrie
I love her slight eccentricities and unwavering committal to her favorite products, be they luxurious or not. I am dying to try some of her products myself, but with the mainstay running at $140 per bottle, it’s unfortunately out of budget. My dad, of course, ordered the face oil and lip balm for himself, so I’ll have to get his account on these high-end goods. He would.
Thanks for reading!
Ilia’s Arabian Nights, continued
Last night I was in no condition to post a picture of how my new obsession actually looked on a human being, but here I am, bright eyed-ish and busy tailed with a light coat of Ilia’s Arabian Nights, GPOY style.
Thanks for reading!
Ilia Beauty: Pure Lip Care
While skimming through an e-mail from one of my favorite websites, Well and Good NYC, I could have sworn I saw mention of a natural lipstick comparable to the likes of NARS and Bobbi Brown. “Surely, that can’t be so,” I thought, positive my eyes were playing tricks on me. As simple minded as it may seem, my quest for a proper natural lipstick has been a journey filled with disappointment and despair: lies about the integrity of ingredients, pathetic color delivery or wear-time, packaging that is just flat-out embarrassing. It’s remarkable I’ve held it together for so long. A more intent gaze at the e-mail surprisingly refuted my disbelief: Natural lipstick maven creates a beauty line for the NARS-loving woman.
Okay. So you’re telling me there has been created an on-trend, high performance, natural lipstick….and you’re telling me that it is being sold at what I consider retail heaven-on-earth? I set out for ABC Home before I even finished reading the e-mail.
Lo-and-behold. I’m not really sure how I didn’t think to spend more time poking around ABC for new beauty purchases…their natural make-up selection is kind of unbeatable. I’ve always been distracted by their phenomenal visual merchandising – speechlessly appreciating the undeniable beauty while simultaneously recoiling in a combination of horror at the justifiably exorbitant furniture prices and a self-disgust, because why hadn’t I thought to decorate my house that way?
A veritable childhood wonderland
Of course I tried on every color, settling on the berry-red Arabian Nights. After spraying, sniffing, poking and smearing virtually every other tester in the apothecary department I finally relinquished $25.00 for my new shade, which I guess I should have expected having been compared to aforementioned high-end department store brands.
The wear is build-able, beautiful and unnoticeable, besides your lips feeling conditioned and healthy. Without eating or drinking, which y’all know is impossible for me, the color lasts remarkably long. I will say the finish is similar is closer to a tinted balm than a lipstick, but much more pigmented.
Ilia‘s site offers a knowledgeable-yet-unpretentious sort of brand philosophy that makes me feel all fuzzy on the inside, as well as romantic, whimsical color descriptions that leave me with an unexplainable urge to snatch up all six shades…is that some sort of inherent female trait?
It goes without saying I am more than excited about this line and hope to see it flourish as the high-end line it sets out to be. I hope you all get an opportunity to indulge in these colors as well.
Thanks for reading!
Happy Thanksgiving: Gratitude
Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never ever have enough.
Sorry this is completely natural-beauty-product-irrelevant but I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for my amazing family (whom I’m painfully missing right now), friends, and even my cat despite her ever mischievous nature.
And of course for….FOOD! >_<
Happy Thanksgiving and EAT UP!
Recent Work
Of course, I am a natural product junkie, but first and foremost I am a make-up artist….it’s what sparked my interest in natural products in the first place! Above is some of my more recent work with a local Brooklyn boutique and online shop Dear Fieldbinder. I even did a little hair here, which is honestly not my strong suit. Lucky for me they wanted some “un-done” styles.
For more of my work check out my website and my Facebook page!
Thank you for reading!
Cheers//Jeers: Jao Edition
Cheers
As the cold months (read: FLU SEASON) are fast approaching, my germaphobic side is rearing it’s ferocious head, and this time without Purell to turn to. Trust me, I know the best defense against the flu is good old fashioned hand-washing but in New York hand-washing when you really need to is about as likely as my cat learning how to clean her own litter box (but a girl can certainly dream). Subway hand rails, public door knobs, taxi cab door handles…please don’t get me started. This 99.8% natural hand refresher has been a god-send even if it is only a peace of mind placebo. My hands do feel genuinely clean after use and it smells so good I want to “refresh” my whole bod. Yum!
Jeers
After falling in love with the aforementioned hand refresher, I was convinced that all products from this line would be equally as blogworthy, but alas this balm fell a bit short. While I must admit it works incredibly, the flavor is less than desirable…it doesn’t taste like something you should be allowed to put near your mouth…and upon further inspection, this balm contains parabens. Aw man! I’m such a sucker! Look you can see “Propylparaben” written plain and clear on the picture of that box right up there! How did I not notice that??!
I guess you can’t win ‘em all.
Thanks for reading!
Soap Hope $50 Twitter Giveaway!
Y’all…I am too excited for this; Mike from Swagtag just informed me of this amazing giveaway from Soap Hope.
Swagtag is giving away a $50 gift certificate for all natural mineral makeup from Soap Hope tomorrow, October 26th.Soap Hope (http://soaphope.com) is a home and body products site that invests 100% of its profits to empower women at home and around the world. Every dollar made is loaned to impoverished women to help them start their own business. After those profits have spent a year in service, the money is returned to Soap Hope. It’s like the Peace Corps for money: they volunteer every dollar for a year of service.
To spread their mission on Twitter, Soap Hope has teamed up with Swagtag (http://swagtag.it) to host a Twitter contest.
How’s it Work?
- Anyone who tweets #shopforlove for Soap Hope will be entered into the Swagtag contest.
- The tweet with the highest score at the end of the day wins the $50 gift certificate from Soap Hope. Tweets are scored through a point system. Each on-site vote counts as 1 point, and each re-tweet is worth 2 points.
So by tweeting #shopforlove, people not only have a chance to win some incredible all natural makeup, but they’re improving women’s lives worldwide.—
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?For more info on Swagtag, visit http://swagtag.it or our blog at http://swagtag.droppn.com
