Fun Soap Rocks Make a Great Gift

By sarajean on 8/10/10 5:31pm
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Recently I came across these super cool bath soaps in the shapes of various gemstones. Called soap rocks, they resemble real gem stones in such a likeness that you might swear they were the real thing. Best of all, most of the soap rocks I’ve read about are either completely or mostly all-natural, without harmful additives you’d normally find in commercial soaps.

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The Story of Cosmetics

By sarajean on 7/28/10 2:22am
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It’s finally here—the much anticipated, latest video from The Story of Stuff pioneer Annie Leonard, The Story of Cosmetics! In conjunction with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, The Story of Cosmetics tells the tale of the toxins in our personal care products—from shampoos to sun block to baby products. It also explains the damage that these ingredients cause—not just the health effects like cancer and reproductive problems in the people who use them, but also to the environment and the people who produce them. Like The Story of Stuff, this film is very brief and portrayed in the same entertaining, animated way.

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Skin Cancer Isn't Sexy

By sarajean on 6/10/10 1:48am
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No matter how many studies I cite, pictures of melanoma I send, or alternatives I offer, my friends and family who tan—tan on purpose, that is—refuse to cease and desist. I know people who purchase plans to receive weekly—even daily!—tanning sessions. They pay for this UV exposure! I know others who actually own their own tanning beds, either in their homes or places of business.

Off to those pre-casket lighted beds they dash, eager to darken their skin colors, make themselves more sex-ay, and prepare themselves for their apparent roles in the next Gidget film.

And, of course, get skin cancer.

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Do’s and Don’ts for Valentine’s Day

By sarajean on 1/31/10 4:07pm
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Planning on buying your sweetie something smelly-good and pretty for the big V-day? It could be a fantastic idea—or it could be a flop. Here are a few do’s and don’t’s when it comes to Valentines and cosmetics.

Don’t go for basic makeup—unless he or she requests it. Buying foundation, eye shadow, or other gifts might suggest that there’s something wrong with the way your sweetie looks, which isn’t good! However, if the item is requested (“I loooove this Hard Candy glitter stick!”), it’s a safer bet.

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Seasonal Cosmetics at Every Counter

By sarajean on 12/17/09 1:16am
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 If you want to smell like candy canes, gingerbread, or pine trees, you can always immerse yourself within these things. I’ve never bathed with candy canes myself, but I’m sure it would be interesting. Of course, if you’d like to do something easier—and perhaps less sticky—you could simply take advantage of the seasonal fragrances and cosmetics you can find at just about every cosmetics counter right now.

One of my favorite places to purchase cosmetics, The Body Shop, has plenty of body shimmers, smoothers, scrubs, butters, glazes, and pretty much anything else you could swathe all over your body with. Their holiday scents include Merry Cranberry and Nutmeg and Vanilla.

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Check Your Makeup Expiration Dates

By sarajean on 10/14/09 12:38pm
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The hidden dangers in makeup, fragrances and personal care products within their own ingredients has been a growing concern for many women (and men). More and more people are emptying their makeup bags and medicine cabinets, opting for safer choices in everything from deodorant to lipstick.

But have you considered that even these safe cosmetics may not be good for you? Sure, they were at one time—but how long have you been holding onto that Burt’s Bees lip balm? Checking the expiration dates on your products and tossing the ones that are too old are an important part of keeping your body healthy. Not only do older products cease to work as well—they can also get messy and gross.

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Fatal Fragrances

By sarajean on 9/12/09 9:13am
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It’s funny, I used to wear perfume every day. I had specific scents for different occasions—seasons, work, going out, dates with my then-boyfriend… I really loved being able to change my mood by changing my fragrance, and it also added an elegant feel to otherwise blah days.

But after I had a baby and was advised to stay away from perfume while she was in the Intensive Care Nursery, I just stopped wearing it altogether. The result is that now, when I smell perfume on someone, I am usually sort of disgusted; all I smell is alcohol, and even if it smells not-half-bad, it still bothers me.

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Sweet simplicity: Organic lip and cheek stains

By lafeeverte on 8/31/09 11:04pm
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With the recent trend of mineral powders and make-up in ads you see splashed all across the internet and on television, I had to stop and question whether or not this was a fad worthy of all the attention. Make-up is so complicated. It is always changing, it is always expensive and it is always a controversy with animal testing, whale killing, toxic nail polish fuming in bottles upon bottles all retailing in double and triple digit dollar signs to keep women spending their way towards the ideal of a more beautiful visage. Poppycock, I say! Let us revisit the timeless beauty classic- the stain. It is sweet simplicity itself and now I'd like to explore the best of all natural, organic stains available for the lip and cheek.

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I Want to Look Like Bella!

By sarajean on 8/15/09 7:59pm
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OK, I really don’t. And never would. Ever. Yes, I’ve read the Twilight series and have mixed feelings about it, but Bella is likely one of my least favorite literary characters ever.

That said, I'm by no means above those who do.

I remember when Titanic came out and I wanted to look just like gorgeous Kate Winslet (hell, I still would—Kate is hot!). I bought the makeup she wore, a pair of glove like the pair she wore, and even started doing my hair in updos. My boyfriend (now-husband) even bought me a goofy pendant like the one she wore in the film that I would probably be embarrassed to wear today. I bought enough makeup to look like Kate (or Rose, if you will) in fact, that I was able to send in my proofs-of-purchase to buy an “exclusive” behind-the-scenes Titanic photo book!

Oh, boy. Those were the days, eh?

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For Your Skin's Sake, Fake It

By sarajean on 8/10/09 7:39am
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Though we’ve all known for some time that sun tanning can cause skin cancer, international cancer experts now say that it’s a much bigger risk than we may have thought before.

Ultraviolet radiation sources—including tanning beds—have now been moved to the top cancer risk category. This classification means that, along with tobacco products, hepatitis B and chimney sweeping, tanning is now considered a certain course for cancer.

You know, if any other form of radiation were the case, I doubt people would be paying to get it. I get upset every time my daughter has to have an x-ray, for crying out loud; and people have to wear suits to deal with other radiation forms as a job hazard. So why do we keep doing it? And why do parents allow their own children to do it?

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