Baybeeees!
How are you? Groovy? Cool? Awesome? All of the above? Fabulous! Me too!
So with my complete, total disappointment last Friday over Bare Escentuals allowing themselves to be purchased by the horrid, animal-testing Shiseido, I wrapped up my blog by saying that I'd be heading over to the Estee Lauder counter that evening to find a new CF makeup to call my very own.
Well - no offense to Estee Lauder, because they're CF, they own many CF brands, and they just all-around rock my socks, but I didn't quite get that far. My first and only pit stop wound up being at the Laura Mercier counter (http://www.lauramercier.com/store/home.jsp), and I never got any further! They're a wonderful, sophisticated and classy CF brand, and I wound up picking up a few items that I'm truly just loving. Here's what I brought home with me:
1. I never thought, after six years with Bare Escentuals, that you could turn me back onto liquid foundation. Well, I was wrong! LM's Oil Free Foundation is just magical! It gives this great natural looking finish, but still covers flaws and lasts all day. I could never wear many liquid foundations before, because they just slid off my face by lunchtime. This stuff hangs on, but is still easy to get off at night. The shades are a pretty good match - there's about ten of them, and it was really easy for me to get the perfect shade really fast.
2. Secret Concealer - Only three shades to pick from, but wow! Those three shades still manage to have quite a range. Even the lightest shade, #1, looked really kind of dark in the little pot for "Old Paper Face" me! But it wasn't - once you get it on, it really blends in with your skin tone, and covers everything bad! Bonus - you can use it on your lids as a primer, and it just hangs on to your eyeshadow! You may wonder how much mileage you're going to get out of this little pot, but one thing I found out is that the tiniest, most ridiculously little bit goes the longest way.
3. However, my problem with all concealers, be they cream or mineral, is that once I get them on under my eyes, I need to set them with powder. Setting them with powder, however, makes them crack and crease, and I look even older and more tired. Weeelll, not anymore! LM makes this positively unbelievable stuff called Secret Brightening Powder. OMG, you guys - I have truly found a product I can't do without! You can use it anywhere, I suppose, but where this little gem truly works its mojo is setting your concealer, and leaving it with a satiny, crease-free, won't crack finish. In the six days I've been using this, I've not had to touch up my under-eye concealer at all, and I always need to touch up. And it stays smooth, and unwrinkled! This stuff, with the Secret Concealer, has been amazing!
4. Last but certainly not least, to top off the gorgeousness, is LM's Mineral Finishing Powder. You know I love me some mineral makeup. This stuff is so lovely and translucent and airy! It's really, really fine and sheer, they must just mill it to death to get it that air spun. And you know - minerals! Good for your skin!
The brand's not cheap, but it's not outrageously expensive, either - it's in the ballpark of Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown, around there, price-wise. But it's WORTH IT! I mean, for example, take the Secret Brightening Powder. At $22 for a little tub, it may seem pricey. But if you're only using the tiniest bit of that on a little brush to set your concealer, that's gonna last you forever. Heeey, you won't have to shell out again for it till you have some serious lines to conceal! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk! (I keep getting funnier with each blog. This I know.)
This is a wonderful CF brand, and though there's plenty out there to love, you should definitely steer yourselves towards their nearest counter or Sephora!
Much love, buttons!
Lisa
XO
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
This is a total and complete BUMMER!
Oh, babyheads - this sucks!
Have you heard the news? It truly blows - apparently our beloved Bare Escentuals has been purchased by one of the worst animal testers in the biz, Shiseido. Here's the whole gloomy story if you want to see for yourself:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100115/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_shiseido_bare_escentuals
So where does this leave one of the best CF brands out there? My guess is that BE will probably go the route that other non-animal tested brands go when they're acquired by a parent company that tests - namely, BE will probably continue to not test, I'm sure, and will probably be listed just like Kiehl's is with L'Oreal; namely, "a cruelty-free subsidiary of a parent company that tests."
What does that mean for you? Well, as I mentioned in my 4/27/09 blog, I think it all depends on your personal comfort level. I'm sure BE isn't going to suddenly start testing on "Les Bunny Rabbits" just because this dipshit of a company bought them out. So no, I'm sure the makeup itself will continue to be CF. But it's a personal comfort level of whether or not you want to give your money to a brand supported by a parent company that tests.
I'm also kind of disappointed in BE CEO Leslie Blodgett - boy, does that lady not seem like a good match for a brand like Shiseido! Maybe it's just me, but if I were in her position, and I had one of the best natural brands that started off right out of the gate as a CF brand, why the hell would I sell myself out to a company who, in this day and age, refuses to give up this barbaric practice? Are the big bucks that important to her? I'm sure the BE brand was doing just fine on it's own. All you had to do was check out the BE sections at any given Sephora - you couldn't get near the testers for all the women crowded around them. Check out any BE show on QVC - the stuff would sell out before you even knew what happened. Independent BE stores are popping up all over the place. Why give in to a cash cow (pun intended) who doesn't give a crap about how many animals they harm?
Okay, sorry, I know I'm getting all ranty. I loved this brand to bits for six years. So as for my own comfort level, I'm not cool with this. I'm heading straight for the Estee Lauder counter after work tonight!
Have a good weekend, sweeties!
Lisa
Have you heard the news? It truly blows - apparently our beloved Bare Escentuals has been purchased by one of the worst animal testers in the biz, Shiseido. Here's the whole gloomy story if you want to see for yourself:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100115/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_shiseido_bare_escentuals
So where does this leave one of the best CF brands out there? My guess is that BE will probably go the route that other non-animal tested brands go when they're acquired by a parent company that tests - namely, BE will probably continue to not test, I'm sure, and will probably be listed just like Kiehl's is with L'Oreal; namely, "a cruelty-free subsidiary of a parent company that tests."
What does that mean for you? Well, as I mentioned in my 4/27/09 blog, I think it all depends on your personal comfort level. I'm sure BE isn't going to suddenly start testing on "Les Bunny Rabbits" just because this dipshit of a company bought them out. So no, I'm sure the makeup itself will continue to be CF. But it's a personal comfort level of whether or not you want to give your money to a brand supported by a parent company that tests.
I'm also kind of disappointed in BE CEO Leslie Blodgett - boy, does that lady not seem like a good match for a brand like Shiseido! Maybe it's just me, but if I were in her position, and I had one of the best natural brands that started off right out of the gate as a CF brand, why the hell would I sell myself out to a company who, in this day and age, refuses to give up this barbaric practice? Are the big bucks that important to her? I'm sure the BE brand was doing just fine on it's own. All you had to do was check out the BE sections at any given Sephora - you couldn't get near the testers for all the women crowded around them. Check out any BE show on QVC - the stuff would sell out before you even knew what happened. Independent BE stores are popping up all over the place. Why give in to a cash cow (pun intended) who doesn't give a crap about how many animals they harm?
Okay, sorry, I know I'm getting all ranty. I loved this brand to bits for six years. So as for my own comfort level, I'm not cool with this. I'm heading straight for the Estee Lauder counter after work tonight!
Have a good weekend, sweeties!
Lisa
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
YES!!! Yes yes yes YES!!!
Honey bunnies!
"NARS and Animal Testing: NARS Cosmetics does not and never has conducted any animal testing of any kind. Thank you."
Happy 2010, you beauties! How was your holiday? Did Santa bring you lots of CF goodies?
I have the most fantabulous news! News that I, frankly, have been waiting years to hear!
So, you know that one of my arch-enemies, cosmetic brand-wise, was NARS. For years, I'd heard that they tested on animals, they weren't on PETA's "Does Not Test" list, and there was zilch on their website. And yet, secretly... I loved them, but I couldn't use them. It was the love that dare not speak its name, my dirty little secret, and "Dolce Vita" lipgloss was my forbidden love. I could look, but I couldn't touch.
Well, I don't know at what point they got their act together and decided to finally let the public know about their animal testing policy, but I just did another re-check on their website, and found THIS:
"NARS and Animal Testing: NARS Cosmetics does not and never has conducted any animal testing of any kind. Thank you."
Not to be outdone, Edison says:
"Pffft, please. Like she even found this information herself. I'm the one that found it on the internet, not her!"
So that's the awesome scoop for the day! They either were unfairly branded - I forget by who - as animal testers, or something. I mean, it was all over Makeup Alley that they tested, so I dunno what to think, but there's the good news, right from their very own site! WHOOT!
Have a great time dancing through the aisles of Sephora, babies!
Love,
Lisa and Edison
XO
Friday, December 18, 2009
May Your Days Be Furry and Briiight...
Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and many happy wishes no matter how you choose to celebrate!
Since this 'tis the season, I figured a good inspiration in helping our furry friends would be to provide you with a few links for charitable animal donations. You don't even have to give much - any amount will do - these fuzzy little sweeties need our help, however much you can donate.
Here's an idea I got into about 14 years ago. Back at that time, a month after I moved into my first apartment on my own, I had very little money for actual Christmas presents. So I gathered together info from several animal charities I liked - whether they were local or nationwide - and I did a sponsorship donation for one animal for each member of my family in their name. It cost me, honestly, about $25 a pop to sponsor each animal for a year. And for that year, that person would get a picture of their animal, and a quarterly update about how their furry friend was doing. It's a great way to do something in the spirit of giving, it's great for people who are hard to buy for, and even if you're not as broke as I was back then, it's a great additional gift to give with a regular holiday gift. The donation card with that sweet little furry face looking out at you is great as a stocking stuffer, or to tie to the front of a present instead of a gift tag. It's something that gives, it warms your heart, and really makes you feel like you're making a difference. And the recipient won't have to have it dry cleaned ever!
Here are a couple of links to animal charities I love:
The Animal Legal Defense Fund: http://www.aldf.org/index.php. This is probably one of the most important charities I've come across in the past few years. The charity is exactly what it's name implies - striving to enact laws that make animal cruelty a crime, and harsher penalties for anyone who harms an animal. Their slogan is "Harm an Animal - Go To Jail." Here's a little bit about them from their website: "For more than three decades, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Founded in 1979 by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life. Today, ALDF’s groundbreaking efforts to push the U.S. legal system to end the suffering of abused animals are supported by hundreds of dedicated attorneys and more than 100,000 members."
Best Friends Animal Society: http://www.bestfriends.org//. Based in Kanab, Utah, this huge sanctuary takes in any kind of animal who needs help, no matter how big or small. They're probably one of the largest no-kill shelters in the country. Animals with missing limbs, missing ears, blind, sick, or simply unwanted - it doesn't matter. These people have opened their doors to furry, feathery and scaly friends of all sorts. Here's a bit more about them from their website: "Best Friends Animal Society is guided by a simple philosophy: kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us. In the late 1980s, when Best Friends was in its early days, roughly 17 million dogs and cats were being killed in shelters every year. Despite the commitment of shelter workers to the animals in their care, the conventional belief was that little could be done to lower that terrible number. Best Friends' No More Homeless Pets campaign created a new vision: A grassroots effort to place dogs and cats who were considered "unadoptable" into good homes, and to reduce the number of unwanted pets through effective spay and neuter programs. Since then, the number of dogs and cats being destroyed in shelters has fallen to approximately 5 million a year. There has been much progress,but there is still much more to do. The next phase of this work – bringing the number down to essentially zero – will take more work and some bold new initiatives. Shelters are crowded with pit bulls, dogs abandoned after being bought from pet stores, stray cats rounded up on the streets and not looking their very best when they’re brought in, and other pets abandoned or neglected. As the flagship of a grassroots network of people and organizations that care about animals, Best Friends continues to lead the way towards this future. And that's why our purpose remains: A better world through kindness to animals."
Another idea if you like the idea of keeping things local - donate to a local charity in your area. Sure, you can send money, but you can also donate your time, or old blankets, towels and pillows to keep the fuzzykins warm and cozy during the winter months till they find a home. Or if you're able to do it - offer them your home! Not just a "Hey, it's Christmas, let's adopt a pet! Nyuk nyuk nyuk!" But if you're truly in a position, both in your heart and in your home, to expand your family by four more legs, it's a truly wonderful thing to do.
Okay then, my lovelies - this is probably the last chance I'll have to type up some "blog-nog" (DORK!) before Christmas actually rolls around. So you'd better watch out, you'd better not cry, you'd better not pout, I'm telling you why - because that's a BUMMER, dude! Cheer up, it's Christmas!
I'd like to leave you with a few thoughts from what is probably one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time - Scrooged, starring Bill Murray (yes, I'm serious!). During the course of the movie, we see Frank Cross go from a man so cruel that he suggests stapling antlers to a Christmas mouse's little noggin at the beginning (perfect for a CF blog! And don't worry - no Christmas door mice were harmed during the making of this movie), to a man who wouldn't hurt a fly by the end of the film. My favorite part, though, is at the end of the film, when a truly reformed Frank Cross addresses his television audience on the joys of helping your fellow man:
"It's Christmas Eve. It's-it's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we-we-we smile a little easier, we-w-w-we-we-we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year we are the people that we always hoped we would be."
Even though I love this whole movie, that's the part that gets me. I cry like a baby when he gets to that part about being the kind of people we always hoped we would be. Or as the Ghost of Christmas Past says to him, "Niagara Falls, Frankie Angel." And we can be, you know? Whether you donate your time to a soup kitchen, or give to whatever charity warms your heart, be it animal, human or global, it's all up to us. We're the only ones who can make this planet a truly better place - and not just at Christmas, but all year round!
So to you and yours, have a fabulous, peaceful, healthy, happy holiday! Eat lots of food, stay warm and safe, and spend as much time as you can under the mistletoe with someone you love! Have a happy new year, and remember - I love your asses, you wonderful bunnies, you!
SMOOOOCH!!!
Love,
Lisa (and Edison, the big schmoopy kitten-head!)
XO
Since this 'tis the season, I figured a good inspiration in helping our furry friends would be to provide you with a few links for charitable animal donations. You don't even have to give much - any amount will do - these fuzzy little sweeties need our help, however much you can donate.
Here's an idea I got into about 14 years ago. Back at that time, a month after I moved into my first apartment on my own, I had very little money for actual Christmas presents. So I gathered together info from several animal charities I liked - whether they were local or nationwide - and I did a sponsorship donation for one animal for each member of my family in their name. It cost me, honestly, about $25 a pop to sponsor each animal for a year. And for that year, that person would get a picture of their animal, and a quarterly update about how their furry friend was doing. It's a great way to do something in the spirit of giving, it's great for people who are hard to buy for, and even if you're not as broke as I was back then, it's a great additional gift to give with a regular holiday gift. The donation card with that sweet little furry face looking out at you is great as a stocking stuffer, or to tie to the front of a present instead of a gift tag. It's something that gives, it warms your heart, and really makes you feel like you're making a difference. And the recipient won't have to have it dry cleaned ever!
Here are a couple of links to animal charities I love:
The Animal Legal Defense Fund: http://www.aldf.org/index.php. This is probably one of the most important charities I've come across in the past few years. The charity is exactly what it's name implies - striving to enact laws that make animal cruelty a crime, and harsher penalties for anyone who harms an animal. Their slogan is "Harm an Animal - Go To Jail." Here's a little bit about them from their website: "For more than three decades, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Founded in 1979 by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life. Today, ALDF’s groundbreaking efforts to push the U.S. legal system to end the suffering of abused animals are supported by hundreds of dedicated attorneys and more than 100,000 members."
Best Friends Animal Society: http://www.bestfriends.org//. Based in Kanab, Utah, this huge sanctuary takes in any kind of animal who needs help, no matter how big or small. They're probably one of the largest no-kill shelters in the country. Animals with missing limbs, missing ears, blind, sick, or simply unwanted - it doesn't matter. These people have opened their doors to furry, feathery and scaly friends of all sorts. Here's a bit more about them from their website: "Best Friends Animal Society is guided by a simple philosophy: kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us. In the late 1980s, when Best Friends was in its early days, roughly 17 million dogs and cats were being killed in shelters every year. Despite the commitment of shelter workers to the animals in their care, the conventional belief was that little could be done to lower that terrible number. Best Friends' No More Homeless Pets campaign created a new vision: A grassroots effort to place dogs and cats who were considered "unadoptable" into good homes, and to reduce the number of unwanted pets through effective spay and neuter programs. Since then, the number of dogs and cats being destroyed in shelters has fallen to approximately 5 million a year. There has been much progress,but there is still much more to do. The next phase of this work – bringing the number down to essentially zero – will take more work and some bold new initiatives. Shelters are crowded with pit bulls, dogs abandoned after being bought from pet stores, stray cats rounded up on the streets and not looking their very best when they’re brought in, and other pets abandoned or neglected. As the flagship of a grassroots network of people and organizations that care about animals, Best Friends continues to lead the way towards this future. And that's why our purpose remains: A better world through kindness to animals."
Another idea if you like the idea of keeping things local - donate to a local charity in your area. Sure, you can send money, but you can also donate your time, or old blankets, towels and pillows to keep the fuzzykins warm and cozy during the winter months till they find a home. Or if you're able to do it - offer them your home! Not just a "Hey, it's Christmas, let's adopt a pet! Nyuk nyuk nyuk!" But if you're truly in a position, both in your heart and in your home, to expand your family by four more legs, it's a truly wonderful thing to do.
Okay then, my lovelies - this is probably the last chance I'll have to type up some "blog-nog" (DORK!) before Christmas actually rolls around. So you'd better watch out, you'd better not cry, you'd better not pout, I'm telling you why - because that's a BUMMER, dude! Cheer up, it's Christmas!
I'd like to leave you with a few thoughts from what is probably one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time - Scrooged, starring Bill Murray (yes, I'm serious!). During the course of the movie, we see Frank Cross go from a man so cruel that he suggests stapling antlers to a Christmas mouse's little noggin at the beginning (perfect for a CF blog! And don't worry - no Christmas door mice were harmed during the making of this movie), to a man who wouldn't hurt a fly by the end of the film. My favorite part, though, is at the end of the film, when a truly reformed Frank Cross addresses his television audience on the joys of helping your fellow man:
"It's Christmas Eve. It's-it's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we-we-we smile a little easier, we-w-w-we-we-we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year we are the people that we always hoped we would be."
Even though I love this whole movie, that's the part that gets me. I cry like a baby when he gets to that part about being the kind of people we always hoped we would be. Or as the Ghost of Christmas Past says to him, "Niagara Falls, Frankie Angel." And we can be, you know? Whether you donate your time to a soup kitchen, or give to whatever charity warms your heart, be it animal, human or global, it's all up to us. We're the only ones who can make this planet a truly better place - and not just at Christmas, but all year round!
So to you and yours, have a fabulous, peaceful, healthy, happy holiday! Eat lots of food, stay warm and safe, and spend as much time as you can under the mistletoe with someone you love! Have a happy new year, and remember - I love your asses, you wonderful bunnies, you!
SMOOOOCH!!!
Love,
Lisa (and Edison, the big schmoopy kitten-head!)
XO
Saturday, December 5, 2009
It's alive!! IT'S ALLIIIVEE!!!!
I AM alive! Are you shocked? I'm shocked that I finally got off my duff to post! How have you all been?
Work has been bananas, and I'm not loving it, but I am glad to be gainfully employed, even if it's by a bunch of weirdos! I have some pretty happy news, which is that I've decided to further my education, and this winter I'll be taking a paralegal certification course here in the Big Apple ("up against the wall and spread 'em!" Bwahaah!) to hopefully transition into a career instead of just a job! So that's gonna be a ton of work, and may keep me away from this blog even further. Hopefully not, but I figured I'd better stick my noggin up out of this rabbit hole long enough to wish you all Happy Holidays, and to post some fun stuff I just found!
Did you ever go over to PETA's website and realize that in their "Shop" section, they have super-cute tees and stuff that flaunts your CF-status? Well, they do! G'head, check 'em out - here's the link to their tees and such ! I mean, look - I know, PETA can be a mixed bag. There are a lot of mixed emotions out there about their methods, and at times, I feel the same way. But I still stand behind their message - animal cruelty sucks. And there are a few tees in that link that are a little more low-key in case you don't want to get all "HEY! I'M WEARING A PETA TEE SHIRT!" I figure, with the holidays coming, why not take a look at gifts that deal with something close to your heart?
Since we're getting all smooshy about da little animals, let me post a link to a very cool news story that didn't get the attention it deserved. While I've never been a fan of "Grey's Anatomy", it seems actress Katherine Heigl paid $25,000 to fly 25 little Chihuahuas to a chihuahua rescue in New Hampshire. The poor little lovies had been dumped off at a shelter by people who purchased them as accessories instead of pets (I'm looking at YOU, Paris Hilton!), and then no longer wanted them. Ms. Heigl ponied up her own cash to give them a better life, and soon the little dolls were winging their way to the rescue in NH - where, incidentally, the rescue workers think they all have a fabulous shot at getting adopted. They said that you almost never see Chihuahuas in NH, so they have a pretty good shot at happy homes. Hats off to YOU, Ms. Heigl! Job well done!
Well, I'm off to rinse the color out of my hair (yeah, you're just lucky this isn't a video blog, y'all!), so have a great rest of the weekend, and I'll see you soon!
Kiss kiss kiss!
Lisa
Friday, August 28, 2009
A Word About Mineral Makeup
Hello, lovelies!
Sorry I've been AWOL, but - you guessed it - the job! Don't worry, once I win the lottery, I'm all yours, 24-7!
So today, we're going to make talk about mineral makeup, and making sure you're absolutely buying a CF brand.
If you're nutso bananas about mineral makeup like I am, you're in good company. I had nothing but blotchy, sensitive, problem skin till I made the mineral switch. Lots of smart ladies have made this change, and their skin has thanked them for it.
The wonderful Bare Escentuals, as we all know, was the first trailblazer into the mineral makeup field, followed closely by such awesome brands as Jane Iredale, Aromaleigh, and Everyday Minerals. In fact, once Bare Escentuals hit it big, many other mineral makeup brands began popping up like daisies, and more importantly, many existing cosmetic brands developed their own mineral makeup to add to their regular liquid foundation line. This is where it gets interesting, and this is the point of my blog today.
Many well-intentioned ladies out there who are buying mineral makeup are assuming - sometimes incorrectly - that if it's mineral makeup, it must be CF, since the first original brands were CF brands. But "Mineral Makeup = CF" is not always the case, so be careful! I've even heard some folks remark, while wandering the aisles of Sephora, "Well, it's mineral makeup, so I know it's not tested on animals." It's an honest enough mistake to make - not only were those first few brands in the mineral makeup field CF brands, many of them were also mostly natural, with very few chemical ingredients to screw up your skin. The brands I mentioned above are all CF mineral makeup brands. But there are some companies that still test on animals who have added mineral makeup to their lines.
We all know how business is - it's a "monkey see, monkey do" world out there. If one brand hits it big with a certain formula of makeup, then many more brands are all too willing to jump on the bandwagon. So what this means for you is that you still need to do your homework, check back here, or email me before you buy! Because, babies, brands who still test, like Cover Girl, Maybelline, and Neutrogena, have all come out with mineral makeup lines, and they're all still tested on animals. Plus, to boot, the brands who still test are adding very few minerals to the actual makeup. So not only do you run the risk of still buying a tested brand, you also run the risk of buying something that has just as many chemicals in it as their other cosmetics. You're all a pretty smart bunch, I can smell it on ya, so don't be fooled!
As always, the good news is that in addition to the CF mineral brands mentioned earlier, lots of the big-wig CF regular brands have a mineral makeup for you as well. Clinique, Estee Lauder, MAC, Revlon - they all jumped on the popularity of mineral makeup, too, so there are plenty of CF brands out there to pick from.
As always, I loves ya! Have a great weekend, and I'll smooch you all to bits very, very soon!
Love,
Lisa
Sorry I've been AWOL, but - you guessed it - the job! Don't worry, once I win the lottery, I'm all yours, 24-7!
So today, we're going to make talk about mineral makeup, and making sure you're absolutely buying a CF brand.
If you're nutso bananas about mineral makeup like I am, you're in good company. I had nothing but blotchy, sensitive, problem skin till I made the mineral switch. Lots of smart ladies have made this change, and their skin has thanked them for it.
The wonderful Bare Escentuals, as we all know, was the first trailblazer into the mineral makeup field, followed closely by such awesome brands as Jane Iredale, Aromaleigh, and Everyday Minerals. In fact, once Bare Escentuals hit it big, many other mineral makeup brands began popping up like daisies, and more importantly, many existing cosmetic brands developed their own mineral makeup to add to their regular liquid foundation line. This is where it gets interesting, and this is the point of my blog today.
Many well-intentioned ladies out there who are buying mineral makeup are assuming - sometimes incorrectly - that if it's mineral makeup, it must be CF, since the first original brands were CF brands. But "Mineral Makeup = CF" is not always the case, so be careful! I've even heard some folks remark, while wandering the aisles of Sephora, "Well, it's mineral makeup, so I know it's not tested on animals." It's an honest enough mistake to make - not only were those first few brands in the mineral makeup field CF brands, many of them were also mostly natural, with very few chemical ingredients to screw up your skin. The brands I mentioned above are all CF mineral makeup brands. But there are some companies that still test on animals who have added mineral makeup to their lines.
We all know how business is - it's a "monkey see, monkey do" world out there. If one brand hits it big with a certain formula of makeup, then many more brands are all too willing to jump on the bandwagon. So what this means for you is that you still need to do your homework, check back here, or email me before you buy! Because, babies, brands who still test, like Cover Girl, Maybelline, and Neutrogena, have all come out with mineral makeup lines, and they're all still tested on animals. Plus, to boot, the brands who still test are adding very few minerals to the actual makeup. So not only do you run the risk of still buying a tested brand, you also run the risk of buying something that has just as many chemicals in it as their other cosmetics. You're all a pretty smart bunch, I can smell it on ya, so don't be fooled!
As always, the good news is that in addition to the CF mineral brands mentioned earlier, lots of the big-wig CF regular brands have a mineral makeup for you as well. Clinique, Estee Lauder, MAC, Revlon - they all jumped on the popularity of mineral makeup, too, so there are plenty of CF brands out there to pick from.
As always, I loves ya! Have a great weekend, and I'll smooch you all to bits very, very soon!
Love,
Lisa
Monday, August 10, 2009
Product Spotlight: California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick
Yes, yes, I should have put this in our Spotlight way earlier in the summer, but there's no time like the present to remind you that, even though we're most of the way through summer, you still have to protect your skin.
Of course it's not as cute as former Brat Packer Andrew McCarthy...
So there's this great little brand of skin and sun care called California Baby (http://www.californiababy.com/index.html), and it's not only great stuff for your little ones, but it's great stuff for all you big people out there, too! One of the things I've had a really hard time tracking down in the realm of CF products has been suncare. There are a few really good ones out there, but it's been hard finding a full range of sun protection that keeps us safe, yet doesn't harm our animal babies in the process. Look no further than these guys!
But the one I want to really share with all you ladies out there is the No Fragrance SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick! One of the things I hate the most about summer (number one - the humidity, which makes me look like Larry from The Three Stooges) is that before I even get my makeup on, I've sweated right through my sunblock in my hot little apartment. It's a problem, because you need sun protection, but you also need it to stay matte so that you can get your face on to begin with, which is where this little gem comes in. Here's the product description from the California Baby website itself: "Pop this convenient PABA free, non-chemical, fragrance-free sunblock stick into your pocket, purse or diaper bag. The whole family will love this easy-to-use stick that gives those 'hot spots' a boost of extra protection. Our non-chemical sunblock stick employs a highly micronized, non-whitening titanium dioxide that scatters and reflects dangerous UV rays, offering UVA-UVB broad-spectrum protection. Non-staining formula. It glides on smoothly for easy application. May be used in combination with our SPF30+ sunscreen lotions."
Truly, this is a little slice of heaven during these sweltering dog days of summer. And look - it even comes in an easy to carry, cute as all-get-out little package!
Of course it's not as cute as former Brat Packer Andrew McCarthy...
... but then, what is? (Sure that was random. But I figured I'd toss you a little something extra since I haven't blogged in so long!)
At $15 at any health food store, it's more than affordable (Hey! We're back to the sunblock now - you can rent "St. Elmo's Fire" on your own time!), and it got a great big kiss on lips from the American Cancer Society.
So have fun in the sun, stay safe, and I'll send you all a big hug from cyber-space since it's too damn hot to hug you in person.
SMOOOOCH!
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