Hair

August 18, 2015

My Ipsy August 2015 & EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database scores for each of the products

Posted in Hair, Makeup / Cosmetics, Nail Polish, Skin Care, Subscription boxes

My Ipsy August 2015 and EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database scores for each of the products

Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in Elegantly Wasted – this is a slightly dusty light purple. Very interesting shade. One that I think may look better on than in the bottle. Something about it seems kinda 90’s to me and I’m not sure why. Not in a dated way but in a resurrection of a style way. This nail polish is 5-free. Since I ran the EWGEWG Environmental Working Group - an organization focused on research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment. score for the OPI that came in my birchbox, I’m running the EWG score on this too. So while this is “5-free,” the OPI is healthier. This comes in at a 5. Still going to try it because it’s nail polish.

LATHER ultra mild face wash – didn’t I get this recently in my birchbox? It seems familiar…Wait … nope. It was the face lotion not the wash and it was an ipsy glambag. Anywho. Nothing bad looking in here. Scores a 3 and none of the ingredients scream “run” so I may give this a shot. I am however very happy with soapless cleansers like the Liz Earle now so it would take a lot for this one to win me over.

Hikari Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Salsa – Parabens, Mineral oil, I’m out even if this one has a healthy score. Lip glosses that use mineral oil just feel weird and wrong on my skin now. This comes in at a 4 – not horrible but I know better.

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom ™ Ginseng + Biotin Volumizer – I really liked their conditioner and the ingredient list here looks excellent too. This scores a 3 and one of the ingredients it was docked for was over contamination concerns … so if they sourced that one well it isn’t really a concern right? Anyway – looking forwards to trying this one.

Starlooks Luxe Longwear Eye Liner Pen – no fragrance and no cones or parabens. Looks good. Though I tend to personally aim for a waterproof eyeliner which seems to be the only downside. So the EWG score is only a 2 which is good. Might try it when I want a distinctive cat eye just to see…

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August 18, 2015

My Birchbox August 2015 & EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database scores for each of the products

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Beauty & Skin, Hair, Makeup / Cosmetics, Nail Polish, Skin Care, Subscription boxes

My Birchbox August 2015 and EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database scores for each of the products

St. Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion – no dimethicone (a personal issue) but it does have fragrance added. Which appears to be the worst thing in this. Overall score is a 5 with the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database score. It could be better but really as I said the worst thing is the fragrance. There are a couple of other things they could probably swap for something more natural for it to be healthier but this is probably one of the better tanning lotions score-wise … and from what I hear, it’s one of the better self tanners color-wise so I MAY give it a shot even though the score is a little higher than I would like. The scent will probably be the determining factor here for me. Things that cause me (or Tim if it doesn’t wash off) problems scent wise end up a no-go. I kinda like the form factor – that it’s a gradual shower lotion instead of something that you have to carefully put on, let dry and then wash your hands immediately.

dr. brandt® microdermabrasion skin exfoliant – fragrance, parabens, and a couple of other things that aren’t so healthy. No cones though. This ends up a 6 with the EWG skin deep cosmetics database. It’s the ingredients and not the score that’s going to keep me from trying this one.

OPI Venice Collection Amore at the Grand Canal – so instead of a score I’m going to check and see if it’s “5-free.” Does it any of the following:

formaldehyde – not in here
dibutyl phthalate – not in here
toluene – not in here
camphor – not in here
formaldehyde resin – not in here

For the heck of it I also ran an EWG report on this too … I don’t think I’ve ever run one on a nail polish. It came out a surprising 2!

This is a really nice rich red. The photo on the birchbox site does not do it justice. I think it will make a really nice fall color.

Rene Furterer LISSEA Leave-in Smoothing Fluid – this one I think I can smell through the container. The fragrance in this one makes it a no-go for me along with the dimethicone. It’s also not really that healthy coming in at a 5.

LAQA & Co. in Humble Brag – no cones, no parfum, no parabens, we may have a winner! BHT seems to be the worst ingredient here but the overall score here is a 2. So winner winner chicken dinner. 🙂

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July 21, 2015

Ipsy Glambag July 2015 and EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database Scores

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Hair, Makeup / Cosmetics, Skin Care, Subscription boxes

Ipsy Glambag July 2015 and EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database Scores via ClothingCult.com

Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics 2-in-1 Shadow/Liner – no cones (cones rule things out for me personally – allergy maybe), no fragrance but it does use petrolatum, parabens and BHT. This is a 5 with the skin deep cosmetics database.

Crown Brush Professional Tweezers – nice! these seem pretty solid. We’ll see how they wear over time.

Octavio Molina Hair La Playa Salt Spray – fragrance/parfum. Sigh. So I’ll have to see if I can handle the scent. Can’t tell on this one without opening it which is a good sign. No parabens, no cones, nothing else that leaps out. Oh wait – a second frangrance hiding here. “Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde” isn’t found by EWGEWG Environmental Working Group - an organization focused on research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment. by that name but is actually commonly known as “Lyral” – just noting it because I had to change it out in the ingredients to run the report. And another sigh – FD&C colors that are really unnecessary. So EWG gives this a 5. Not the worst, not the best. I think I may pass since I can make a healthier version of sea salt spray if I want it.

tarte deluxe Amazonian clay waterproof bronzer – dimethicone rules this one out for me personally – bah bronzers are one of my favorite things. None of the ingredients leap out as bad ingredients. No parabens, no fragrances etc. There are a couple that I can’t place though which is part of why I run them through the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database – to learn more. This is a healthy 2 which makes it even more sad that I can’t try it! Ugh. Why must my skin react so badly to cones???

Vasanti Cosmetics Brighen Up! Exfoliating Cleanser – This one has killer perfume. I’ve received other things from this company before in either Ipsy or Birchbox and it gave me a headache then and it’s giving me a headache now. I can smell it without opening it which is the most annoying part about these things. The rest of the ingredient list looks sound though so if they were to drop the scent I might actually use it. This is a 5 and since fragrance is still the worst thing in here, if they were to drop that it would lower the score and I would try it. For now though it’s out of the question. I’m not using products that give me an obvious headache and I limit those that use synthetic fragrances as well just because they seem to over time have an effect on me.

July 6, 2015

John Frieda Beach Blonde

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Hair

Soooo for some reason this package of John Frieda Beach Blonde items showed up in the mail a few months back and I’m just now getting to it. I don’t remember ordering it but it’s packed and sealed and official so I have to assume they read that I previously used some of the products or something. SO …

John Frieda Beach Blonde via ClothingCult.com

I’m going to review them by my current standards and knowledge of ingredients.

JOHN FRIEDA Beach Blonde Smooth Seas Detangling Conditioner so this has dimethicone in it which rules this conditioner out for me personally. BUT other than fragrance it doesn’t look too bad at a glance. Based on toxic ingredients I’m familiar with. Running it through EWGEWG Environmental Working Group - an organization focused on research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment.’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database to see what else pops out though is another story. This ends up being a 9. With a lot of different ingredients that should be avoided. Sigh. See the link for the full report and info on which ingredients and why.

JOHN FRIEDA Beach Blonde Cool Dip Purifying Shampoo SLS, fragrance, Yellow 6, Blue 1 are the ingredients that stand out as bad ingredients. However SLS … in order to get pool chlorine out of your hair might actually be useful. Just keep in mind that it’s a harsh soap. Ok and then it kinda falls apart again in the EWG Skin Deep scores. It looks like since people have become aware of parabens that they’ve just switched to another lesser known but still fairly toxic preservative: methylisothiazolinone. And overall it scores an 8.

JOHN FRIEDA Beach Blonde Sea Waves Salt Spray ok I have no idea how this one is a 7 with the cosmetics database because the only ingredient that’s higher than 5 is fragrance which is an 8. This is a great example of why you really need to look over the ingredients and decide for yourself. I’m opposed to synthetic fragrances because many are so very toxic and worse they have an impact on my sinus allergies so I’m affected obviously by many of them. Not all but many synthetic fragrances. So this one I’m going to smell and decide if I want to try it.

The fourth thing that wasn’t in this package but is part of this line of products is:

JOHN FRIEDA Beach Blonde Sun Streaks Lightening Spray this reminds me of Sun-in. I used to use Sun-in long long ago and I’ve been tempted to do so again to speed up summer highlights in my hair without going to a hairdresser. Brighter blonds for blondes and possibly brassy highlights for brunettes. Still haven’t committed to it yet. The John Frieda product is a 5 and in looking over everything, the worst thing is added fragrance. It’s really not too bad overall despite it’s score.

April 23, 2015

My Birchbox April 2015 – and EWG scores

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Hair, Makeup / Cosmetics, Skin Care, Subscription boxes

First let me say I LOVE the Rifle Paper Co. box here. Even though it’s just a cardboard box, it’s lovely.

Jouer Tint in petal – Again, not a huge fan of blush or in this case cheek tint. That aside though this has paraben, bht and petrolatum in it. It’s not horribly bad for you but it’s also not great for you and there IS better out there on the market these days. This ranks a 4 with the EWGEWG Environmental Working Group - an organization focused on research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment. skin deep Cosmetics Database (reminder, 0 is the healthiest, 10 is the worst.)

Liz Earle Eyebright™ Soothing Eye Lotion – I’m already addicted the Liz Earle Hot cloth cleanser and I think this is the reason I chose this box over the Mad Men themed boxes. I wanted to try another Liz Earle product because of the quality and ingredients of the first I tried. I’ve lost count on the number of times I’ve emptied and re-purchased the hot cloth cleanser! Right off the bat though there are a couple of ingredients I’m not keen on – parabens. But there’s not much else in here to worry about so other than that it’s pretty close to being healthy. It ends up ranking a 3 with the EWG cosmetics database. I’m going to try it but they could make it healthier by working on a more natural preservative.

Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Moisturizing Shampoo
Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Repairing Conditioner
I’m going to group these two together since Birchbox didn’t put the ingredients online. Cones rule BOTH out for me. Fragrance is strong and these and hurts my lungs (that’s a new one.) And they also contain parabens. I don’t want to have to type up the ingredients list on these tonight but I can tell you already I won’t be trying them. In fact the scent hurts me enough from within the bottles that I don’t want it on someone else’s hair and I’m throwing them out. Toxic. Gross. It’s making me feel bad and I haven’t even opened it. Gah!

MDSolarSciences™ MD Crème Mineral Beauty Balm SPF 50 – several kinds of cones rule this one out for me personally (causes me to break out) but the rest of the ingredients look good at a glance. SPF 50 is a bit overkill however. Unless you’re surfing and need something on your nose or are super fair skin and visiting an island for the first time ever, this just seems a little extreme. We need to allow our bodies to get a bit of sun and produce a certain amount of Vitamin D in order to be healthy. Also at 17% zinc, I wonder if this will be a bit calky despite the color – anyone want to give me feedback on that, please post in the comments. That aside, lets check out the full ingredients for anyone not sensitive to cones. This is actually very healthy – it ranks a 2 with the EWG cosmetics database. So if you’re looking for a strong SPF facial cream (I suspect this will be like a BB Cream instead of a foundation) you might want to give this a shot. Also does anyone know if it’s water resistant? Might make for a good day at the beach lotion for those who hate going without any makeup at all. (Again, cones and I don’t get along so if you can post a comment that’d be great!)

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March 25, 2015

Birchbox March 2015

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Hair, Makeup / Cosmetics, Skin Care, Subscription boxes

Dear Clark Volumizing Tonic – ok I was most excited to try this product just because of the ingredient list and rightly so. It’s amazing and actually does what it says it will do. It gives your hair a little extra boost and it does it without a lot of the unhealthy junk that so many other products use. This is what I keep expecting dry shampoos to do and feel like. More volume, a little texture to help style your hair. I’m in love! And Volumizing sprays aren’t even the type of product I usually get excited about. And honestly I don’t want hair the size of Texas so the volume is very reasonable and fairly controllable for those worried about that. You can got big if you want or just give your hair a little oomph. It is not scent-free but it is scented only by the ingredients it uses. That does mean though that you will smell lightly of patchouli. No one else can smell it and after half a day I don’t even smell it really. So yes, if you sniff the bottle your first thought might be “hippie” but your hair won’t look that way.

Now here’s why I’m going to remind you to take the EWGEWG Environmental Working Group - an organization focused on research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment. score with a grain of salt. This product got a 4. But the ingredients are amazingly good and healthy! Clove oil alone gets a 5. I LOVE clove oil! It’s amazing. It’s healthy. I understand that if you put essential oil directly on the skin it could be a bad thing if it’s not diluted but that’s not what we’re doing here. Alchohol 40B … again … we aren’t drinking this in quantity so there’s less concern here. There are three ingredients I can’t identify as natural that are between a 2-3 each that aren’t great but are mostly contamination concerns so I’m not even really worried about those either. No parabens, no synthetic fragrances, no cones, this is a healthy product and not one that I’m going to avoid because it got a score above a 3. So I’m going to say that unless you have an allergy to one of the ingredients, you should just ignore the score on this product and really look at the ingredients here.

I’ve used this product pretty much every day since I’ve received it! Between this and my new hair brush, every day seems to be a good hair day! I’ll stop gushing now… 🙂

Laura Geller Beauty Baked Blush-n-Brighten – the first three ingredients are Talc, Mica, Mineral Oil, and Dimethicone. 3 of those are ingredients I avoid (hint, mica is the good one.) Two just feel weird on my skin (talc and mineral oil) and one seems to cause my skin to break out for some reason (dimethicone.) It also has parabens and “Imidazolidinyl Urea” which is a formaldehyde releaser. I haven’t even run it through the EWG skin deep database yet! However I thought it was going to be a lot worse than a 5.

Whish Three Whishes Body Butter – I have not been thrilled with any of the Whish products. They all contain fragrance and the scents have been … just not good in my opinion for the most part. If they would ditch or go with a natural fragrance though their products would be a lot better. However it’s most unhealthy ingredient is the fragrance which makes it a 3 with the EWG skin deep cosmetics database.

Supergoop!® Advanced SPF 37 Anti-Aging Eye Cream – dimethicone rules this one out for me. This is not the worst sunscreen though at a 4 but there are also healthier sunscreens out there. Also I think one of the active ingredients may be one of the sunscreens you want to avoid in the ocean due to how it can damage coral reefs. I’ll have to go back and look at that. I wrote a previous post on this.

derma e® Evenly Radiant® Brightening Day Crème SPF15 – you may already know that I’m a big fan of Derma e. Honestly it took some samples to get me to fall in love with them because the only thing I’m not a fan of is the packaging. I hate products I have to dip my fingers into! Despite this I have actually had some Derma e products that I’ve used the entire product and repurchased. That said, I’ve already tried this and while it’s good, it’s not my favorite moisturizer from this company. But it is good and it’s WAY better than many moisturizers from other companies. I think the real test will be when it’s summer. This seems like a better moisturizer for the summer months when your skin is less dry. Right now I’m actually using a night cream during the day because the winter has been harsh. When it comes to the ingredients though, the list on this product is great and scores a healthy 2 with the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. Yay!

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