May 16, 2013
A two minute mask? Yep, that’s right. With this fun, inventive mask, you no longer have to sit around awkwardly for extended periods of time, pretending to ignore the weird stares from your significant other. Also, the quick turnaround time makes this product an absolute lifesaver when I only have 15 minutes to get ready for a night out and want to look freshened up after a looong week at the office. That in itself makes it worth trying at least once.
But what I love most about this mask is that it leaves my skin is super bright and smooth as soon as I wash it off. It also has some subtle exfoliation properties, which I suspect is what helps create the glow-y effect that I’ve come to depend on. It’s also weirdly fun to use – it initially comes out like any other lotion but as soon as you rub it around your face and neck, it instantly turns into a foam. Two minutes and a quick rinse later, you’re good to go. No muss, no fuss.
My only criticism? While the label proudly proclaims that the entire M-61 Skincare line is paraben, sulfate, phthalate and synthetic fragrance / dye free, I wish it was a bit more forthcoming about all the ingredients. I went to their website, hoping to find a full ingredient list for this specific product but alas, could not find it. Skincare companies – please be more transparent about your ingredients, it will make my job much, much easier! Despite this oversight, I’m pretty intrigued by the philosophy behind the M-61 skincare line. Started by Bluemercury’s co-founders, Marla and Barry Beck, M-61 seeks to marry the best of holistic beauty with science. While I have yet to try most of the product line, I think it’s fair to say that they’re definitely on the right path with this mask.
Full disclosure: this product was sent to me by M-61 Skincare for review. However, I definitely plan on repurchasing this when I run out! Available on M-61 Skincare.
Categorized Beauty
Tagged 2 Minute Vitamin C Mask, Bluemercury, M-61, Tester Thursdays
April 18, 2013
Over the past month, I’ve been using Grandma’s Lye Soap and I think it’s perfect shower companion. Why? I personally get really overwhelmed by soaps and body washes that are fragranced to the nth degree. It gives me a rash just thinking about it. Even a lot of “natural” products have an overwhelming scent that usually interferes with my eau de parfum. As such, I’ve been on the hunt for a soap that will keep me squeaky clean – no more, no less. Read more…
Categorized Beauty
Tagged Grandma's Lye Soap, Tester Thursdays
April 8, 2013
As you are probably aware, I am a big fan of the Honest Company‘s products. So when I heard about Jessica Alba’s book, The Honest Life, I was ridiculously excited to read about her tips for natural living. For the most part, the book did not disappoint – it’s a treasure cove of how to change up your grocery shopping, beauty routine, childcare (admittedly, I didn’t read this section closely) and home furnishings. While I was pretty familiar with her tips for eating and beautifying more cleanly, I was surprised to learn about all the toxins that fill our furniture.
Even though I shouldn’t be at all shocked, I was a little appalled by the toxins that fill our homes – and not from your typical suspects like scented candles or conventional home cleaners, but our mattresses, chairs and couches! According to Alba, most of these items are made from polyurethane foam. Apparently it is so flammable that it is always treated with toxic flame retardants which contain lovely sounding ingredients like PFCs and BFRs, known endocrine disruptors that can lead to reproductive and developmental disorders. Of course it wouldn’t be as big of a deal if we didn’t spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping…but we do, so it’s probably worth it to look into some more natural options.
A minor critique – although Jessica Alba refers to herself as an everygirl from a middle class background, some of her recommendations to green your home are a bit out of reach for someone living on a budget (me!). While I really, really appreciate the benefits of having an organic mattress and pillows, they don’t run cheap! Also, there are a few inconsistencies with some of the beauty products she recommends – some of them aren’t as clean as she purports (for example, some of the products with added sunscreen are using chemical sunscreens).
Despite these nits, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great introduction to a greener, cleaner lifestyle. As she mentions throughout the book, Jessica isn’t looking for a 100% clean, non-toxic life (that’s basically impossible unless you remove yourself from society completely). But opening your eyes to the realities of our food, beauty products and furniture will help us make more informed decisions, a noble effort that I definitely support!
Categorized Beauty, General Health, Nutrition
Tagged Book Review, Jessica Alba, The Honest Company, The Honest Life
