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August 18, 2015

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

My Ipsy August 2015 and EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database scores for each of the products
ewg skindeep cosmetics database score 5

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.

ewg skindeep cosmetics database score 3

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.

ewg skindeep cosmetics database score 4

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.

ewg skindeep cosmetics database score 3

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.

ewg skindeep cosmetics database score 2

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…


Sign up for Ipsy: 
ipsy logo
http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-h051sec1kqq5g8p
{affiliate link – I get 250 points which points equal products but it’s still a little unclear how many points to the dollar}

July 22, 2014

August 2014 Birchbox sample choice –
how they stack up based on ingredients

I was impressed last month when Birchbox gave us a choice of colors on the nail polishes we received. They decided to extend that this month and let us again have a choice on one of the sample items in our boxes but this time it’s bigger than just the color. This time they’re going to let us choose between four products.

So I thought I would go ahead and do 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 reports for each of these products now in case anyone wanted factor how healthy they are into their decision making.

* * * * SPOILER ALERT * * * *

.

ewg skindeep cosmetics database score 2ModelCo Bronzer (full size retails for $22.00) Keeping in mind that they often send sample sizes, this one would still be the most expensive to try on your own. This IS free of cones, parabens, and fragrance and other nasties and it ranks a healthy 2 with the cosmetics database.

ewg skindeep cosmetics database score 2Laura Geller Beauty Cool Lids Cream Eyeshadow (full size retails for $19) color me impressed. This is another healthy item at 2 out of 2 ranking a 2 with the cosmetic database. This is a shimmery cream eyeshadow in “silver sands.”

 

ewg skindeep cosmetics database score 3ewg skindeep cosmetics database score 5ewg-skindeep-cosmetics-database-score-unknowntheBalm® cosmetics Stainiac (full size retails for $17.00) this is one of those products that many many people fall in love with that I just wasn’t personally enamored with it. I’ve had this as a sample before and I just didn’t use it. It’s a dual purpose stain and I stick with bronzers for my cheeks so that might be part of it. But it’s a top seller so…

The link in the cosmetics database may be missing some of the ingredients or might be using an older ingredient list so I decided to do a custom report. It does contain fragrance and parabens and but it ranks somewhere between a 3 (using the report above) or a 5 based on the custom report I did using the ingredient list off of the nordstrom website. The ingredient list wasn’t available though birchbox’s website nor through theBalm site. I didn’t want to go dig out my sample because it may actually be old and might not have the current ingredients either… so it’s somewhere between a 3 and a 5.

ewg skindeep cosmetics database score 1Noir Long-Wear Eyeliner (full size retails for $15.00) I actually already own this. It’s a good black eyeliner pencil but I’ve found I’m the weird one who can apply a gel liner faster and better than most pencil liners so I prefer those most of the time. So although I don’t need a backup of this, I’ve kept this one around because it’s a good black pencil liner and it’s a super healthy 1 with the cosmetics database.


 

So I own the last two already. And the first two are a tie when it comes to the ingredient ratings… Surprisingly all of the options are good choices when it comes to the ingredients  (theBalm’s stainiac is the only iffy one and it still isn’t horrendous.)
… Decisions decisions….
Which one do you think you’ll choose? 🙂


 Still not signed up for Birchbox? :D

Birchbox affiliate link
http://birchbox.com?raf=3l3e7
{ yes it’s an affiliate link, I get 50 points which equals $5 credit – share the love! }

 


* * * * UPDATE – even more choices! * * * *

Screen Shot 2014-07-24 at 1.17.38 PM

May 14, 2014

Some TJ Maxx shopping / Cynthia Rowley Haul {May 10, 2014}

Navy and white striped linen blend Ellen Tracy sweater with 3/4 length sleeves. Great for layering over tanks.
Navy and white striped linen blend Ellen Tracy sweater with 3/4 length sleeves. Great for layering over tanks.

So I went shopping at TJ Maxx Saturday looking for some simple business casual pieces that would work well in the hot summer heat and with my existing wardrobe. I was mostly looking for light layering pieces like short sleeved breezy cardigans and super light light sweaters that would work well over tank tops.

Let’s start with the items I passed on:
(and then we’ll get to the good stuff)

NOW on to the good stuff:
(I went in thinking I might find one good piece but instead found a bit more!)

I ALMOST passed on the silk tank top because of the price. It’s been awhile since I spent $30 on a single shirt. But it’s a good business meeting piece and comfortable so it came home with me. Really cute button top in the back that I didn’t take a better photo of too.

As for buying TWO short sleeve linen blend cardigans – I already own some long sleeve linen blend cardigans [seen here and here] and LOVE them which is part of the reason I just bought both short sleeve linen blend cardigans. I also have the same long sleeve jacket in black as well as the neutral shade.

I probably could wear the long sleeve cardigans in the summer they are so light but they look warmer than they are. They are also warm enough though to cut the chill on a cool evening.

A surprising amount of what I bought was Cynthia Rowley. I did not plan it this way as I tend to shop by look and feel of the fabric quality when shopping in a store like TJ Maxx (I also do this when thrift shopping.) I’m clearly attracted to rayon, linen and silk though….

Anyway – WAY more items than I expected to find shopping on Saturday but they were all such good wardrobe building basic that I didn’t want to pass any up!

March 6, 2014

#CSMTKO
Sally Hansen Nail Polish Complete Salon Manicure
{influenster}

#CSMTKO Sally Hansen Nail Polish Complete Salon Manicure

I was sent:

  • “Red my Lips” which is a bright red basic red
  • “Pat on the Black” which is a rich black with undertones of insanely deep dark purple
  • “Jaded” which is a basic mint
All three are creams. No shimmer. No glitter. And that’s just it. The shades are super basic. They’re good but they’re verging on boring. But I think that was the point of the colors that they chose to send us, there’s nothing outright to dislike about them.
Sally Hansen Nail Polish Complete Salon Manicure swatches

I went through the colors listed online and there aren’t a lot I’m super excited about. OR they are a match for something I already own like Jungle Gem which is a deep teal.

“Please sea me” or “Water Color”  are the most appealing of the available shades to me.  But both seems like a summertime color … and we’re not yet at summer. 🙂 The red I’ll probably wear around Christmas.

The quality is good and the nail polishes do last well though. I just wish they were a little more adventurous in their colors.

The good news is that these are “3 Free” when it comes to ingredients

Sally Hansen COMPLETE SALON MANICURE: INGREDIENTS
COLOR SHADES INGREDIENTS: MER, n-BUTYL ALCOHOL, TRIPHENYL PHOSPHATE, GLYCIDYL C8-11 ACIDATE/TRIMETHYLOL PROPANE/PHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER AND BUTYL ACETATE, AQUA/WATER/EAU, ISOSORBIDE DICAPRYLATE/CAPRATE, POLYURETHANE-11, ETHYLENE/VA COPOLYMER, DIACETONE ALCOHOL, ETOCRYLENE, KAOLIN, ACRYLATES/DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER, CORALLINA OFFICINALIS EXTRACT, DIMETHYL ISOSORBIDE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, PHOSPHORIC ACID, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, DIMETHICONE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, POLYBUTYLENE GLYCOL/MDI COPOLYMER, POLYVINYL BUTYRAL, CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS (SAFFLOWER) SEED OIL, MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA (KELP) EXTRACT, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, HYDROLYZED CONCHIOLIN PROTEIN, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, TIN OXIDE, [May Contain/Peut Contenir/+/-:MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007), ALUMINUM POWDER (CI 77000), D&C RED NO. 6 BARIUM LAKE (CI 15850), BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE (CI 77163), D&C RED NO. 7 CALCIUM LAKE (CI 15850), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499) (CI 77491), D&C RED NO. 34 CALCIUM LAKE (CI 15880), FD&C YELLOW NO. 5 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 19140), FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE (CI 77510), MANGANESE VIOLET (CI 77742), D&C BLACK NO. 2 (CI 77266), D&C VIOLET NO. 2 (CI 60725)]. CLEAR’D FOR TAKEOFF INGREDIENTS: ETHYL ACETATE, BUTYL ACETATE, ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER, NITROCELLULOSE, ACETYL TRIBUTYL CITRATE, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, TRIPHENYL PHOSPHATE, ISOSORBIDE DICAPRYLATE/CAPRATE, ETOCRYLENE, GLYCIDYL NEODECANOATE/ PHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE/TMP CROSSPOLYMER, ACRYLATES/DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER, TRIMETHYLPENTANEDIYL DIBENZOATE, AQUA/WATER/EAU, KAOLIN, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, DIMETHICONE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, D&C VIOLET NO. 2 (CI 60725).

February 18, 2014

Blue and black stripe with bright orange


On a recent shopping trip to Kohl’s I found a super cute blue a black stripe sweater. I had brought a bright orange tank into the dressing room and somehow the two complemented each other. Then I found a bright orange scarf that worked to bring it all together. Cute, a bit preppy and a bit unusual all at the same time! Sold.

I have my doubts about this sweater holding up well over time because of the loose knit but we’ll see.

black and blue stripe shirt layered with orange black and blue stripes with bright orange

November 20, 2013

OOTD – turquoise, leopard and corduroy

OOTD - turquoise cable-knit sweater, leopard scarf and camel corduroy - ClothingCult.comOutfit of the day – turquoise, leopard and corduroy. Actually the more I think about it the color sweater color is dead on cyan instead of turquoise. Ok so most of this outfit came from Kohl’s. I’m finding Kohl’s to be a good source of decent quality basics at a good price. I gave a sneak peak of some of these items in this post but that didn’t include the sweater. That $10 Kohl’s cash coupon I got from my online order I used to go back and buy this sweater. Actually I ended up with two of these cable knit sweaters because I liked them so much; the “bold blue” and the “brown heather”.

Sweater: Sonoma Life + Style Cable-Knit sweater in “Bold Blue” | Pants: Sonoma Life + Style Modern Fit Straight Leg Corduroy pants in camel | Scarf:  Apt. 9 Leopard Scarf | Hat: Crushable straw fedora bought early last summer at Kohl’s | Earrings: bought last year at JC PennyShoes: Ugg Antora in black patent (similar Ugg Antora II in black patent)

Ok one quick note on the Uggs Antora ballet flats: I LOVE these but I have last year’s Antora not the Antora II and there is a difference. What I liked about last year’s style is that they are lined with shearling which helps keep my feet warm in winter. Not as warm as boots but better than most ballet flats. There’s no shearling on the footbed but there is shearling along the sides. If you see patent leather on the outside, there’s shearling under that. This year’s Antora II shoe however appears to only have a little tuft of shearling in the heel and that’s it.

The Payless Claire Scrunch Flat dexflex flat is my go-to black ballet in the fall and this Ugg Antora is my go-to black ballet flat in the winter because of that added warmth. I really hate wearing socks but my feet get cold easily. I actually own three pairs of Uggs and they are what go into heavy rotation in the winter and I should probably do a separate post about those. (Don’t worry, none of them are the typical suede Uggs that everyone knows and loves to hate!)