Get Dreamy

The Green Stylist just featured Madara.

Though I don't carry the entire line, I still cannot get enough of their Tinting Fluids. - By far the best tinted moisturizer to EVER touch this mug.

shhh...

Let the fun begin!

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Pure Delicious Color

I am a lipstick and gloss fanatic.

It's one of my fondest memories of being a young girl. - Whenever I would visit my grandmother, I would love to go into her bathroom and look at her lipsticks (long before I was allowed to wear them). Sometimes I would lock the door and apply a bit and then quickly wipe it off as I was not allowed to wear any kind of makeup until many years later.

I once purchased a lipstick at a garage sale that smelled like my grandmothers lipsticks. I still have it in my vanity and I will give it a sniff every now and again. - Just to bring me back. Ahhh, simple pleasures.

Ok, let's move on.

Now you can nourish your lips and cheeks with soothing ingredients including shea butter and rosehip while leaving behind a gorgeous stain of candy-kissed color.
These lovelies were just seen in US Magazine recently.

Though there are many lip products out there that claim they are long-wearing, most aren't. And the ones that are, are basically like applying shelac to your lips. Gross - Unhealthy ingredients and I am not having it.

BUT, until IN comes out with some lipsticks/glosses (I heard it will be soon) I am very excited about these little Lip and Cheek Stains by Treat. (They already have the best lip exfoliator I have ever used.)
And, since they "stain" the lips, the color will last longer without using that mystery stuff to seal the lips.

Lovely, lovely, lovely.

What it is: Mineral Lip & Cheek Stain was created to nourish lips and cheeks with soothing ingredients including shea butter and rosehip while leaving behind a gorgeous coral stain of candy-kissed color. Dab lightly on your lips and cheeks for a sheer wash of color.

What it does: Treat Lip & Cheek Stain moisturizes and soothes like a balm, colors like a stain. Soothes and sweetens the skin with antioxidant rich cacao oil and skin softening shea butter for a healthy candy-kissed glow.

What makes it so delicious: Anti-inflammatory properties of evening primrose oil assist with skin inflammation such as rosacea and acne. Rosehip oil is an ultra-fine oil that absorbs instantly, allowing the skin to breathe as it works, helping reduce the appearance of scars, fine lines and pigmentation and restoring the skins moisture balance.

How do you use it? Dab a tiny bit on your cheeks for a natural flush. Sheer tint of color can be increased by layering to your perfect taste. Apply as light or bright as you like. Dab onto lips to soothe and moisturize with a sheer wash of color.

Made with: Prunis dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Apis mellifera (Beeswax), Palm Christi Oil, Butyrospermun parkii (Shea) Butter,Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Butter, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Limnanthes alba (Meadowfoam) Oil, Oenothers biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Persea americana (Avocado) Butter, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Rosa mosqueta (Rosehip) Oil, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe) Oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Oleoresin, Azadirachta indica (Neem) Oil, (Theobroma Cacao), Essential Oil Fragrance Blend. May contain Mica, Iron Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Red 40, Red 28, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Orange 5.

Mz. K

Looks like Kim Kardashian is groovin' on Nontoxique's Age Reversal Serum.

Jenna Hipp, Hollywood’s hottest “green” celebrity manicurist, is responsible for the perfectly manicured hands of Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Fergie, Pink, and many more, which is why we’ve turned to her for tips on how to achieve gorgeous cover-ready nails on your wedding.

Rethink Ink

Excerpt from the March edition of American Spa magazine, Rethinking Inking by Mitchell Chasin, M.D.

Laser Tattoo Removal has come a long way in the past few years, as technology continues to improve and the demand for removal continues to grow. But technology is only part of the equation. Good decision-making and setting clear expectations are key to achieving satisfying results. In the past, physicians have used carbon-dioxide lasers, pulse-dyed lasers, IPLs, and even dermabrasion to try to break up tattoo ink under the skin. Unfortunately, these devices and procedures proved to have shortcomings, and poor ink clearance and scarring were often the result. These days, physicians are using an assortment of quality-switched laser devises (Q-switched lasers) to safely deliver energy into the skin to shatter tattoo ink, allowing the body's lymphatic system to methodically carry the particles away. A Q-switched laser emits short, high-power pulses, allowing a laser to produce a pulsed beam of light. The technique produces light pulses with very high power -- much higher than would be produced by the same laser operating in a constant output (continuous wave) mode.

Matching Wavelengths and Ink Color

Q-switched lasers emit a unique wavelength of light energy, each of which is better absorbed by different colors of ink. Getting the best results requires matching the right Q-switched laser and laser wavelength to your skin type and the color of your tattoo. Despite manufacturers' claims, there is no one laser that is equally effective for all tattoo colors and skin types. Be wary of inexpensive tabletop tattoo removal lasers, as they generally don't utilize a large enough spot size to get adequate penetration of energy, and scarring often results.

Setting Expectations

Most people don't understand what laser tattoo removal entails when they walk through the door. Many expect to receive one treatment and leave with clear skin and a fresh start. The reality of tattoo removal isn't a nearly that simple, and it's important that you understand how the process works. It takes many treatments over the course of many months to clear the ink, and there are no guarantees that the tattoo will be fully removed in the end. Clear expectations is key to staying satisfied through a long, expensive and potentially painful series of treatments. Even when confronted with the realities of tattoo removal, most start threatment determined to get rid of their unwanted tattoo. The number of treatments it takes to clear a tattoo depends on the type of tattoo and color of the ink(s). Professionally inked tattoos typically have mulitple colors and take the most sessions to clear (usually six to 12 and possibly more), because the ink is injected at a high density and penetrated deeper in to the skin. Amateur tattoos are usually easier to remove because they use less ink. These typically take two to six sessions to clear.

Permanent makeup usually takes one to three sessions to clear, because it uses less ink than professional tattoos, and the injections occur more superficially into the skin. Sometimes the cosmetologists who perform this unregulated beauty treatment use ink containing iron, which can turn blue when hit with laser energy, so testing a small spot before treatment is highly recommended.

Traumatic tattoos result from froeign matter being driven into the skin, such as when a motorcyclist has a spill on asphalt or the skin is punctured with a lead pencil. The number of treatments required to clear a traumatic tattoo can vary greatly -- if they can be cleared by lasers at all -- depending on what substances are embedded in the skin. Two to six treatments is a good place to start. For those with medicinal tattoos, which are used to mark sites on the body for radiation treatment or for catheter placement, they often view it as a reminder of ill health that they want removed after recovery. These usually take just one or two treatments to erase.

Understand that you may need more or fewer sessions, depending on your specific tattoo. With all the formulations of ink and individual tattooing styles available, you never really know how long treatment will take until you have a few sessions under your belt. Treatments should be spaced at least six to eight weeks apart. You can go months between treatments without affecting the eventual outcome, and if you insist on tanning during the summer, it is advisable to put laser tattoo removal on hold for this period, because having a tan can interfere with the delivery of energy and potentially lead to complications.

Learning to Say No

If you have a history of keloid scarring, have had an allergic reaction when you received a tattoo, or have dark skin and a red, pink, and yellow tattoo, it is not advisable to have laser tattoo removal. More scarring could result.

Want a Halo?

Just received my first UrbanHalo and I'm in love! - This one right here. Pretty, huh?

I consider headbands fully-functional hair accessories and though a bit different than a Knot-a-Schmata band, they certainly are a great addition to my headband collection.

UrbanHalo is made right here in MN. They stay put, are headache free and come in each season's hottest prints and colors.

Because I'm groovin' on mine so much, I want to give one to you. I have a $15 gift card (there are many to choose from!) with someones name on it.

So, tell me why you deserve to wear a Halo? Be creative cuz the best answer gets the card.

You can post your answer here or on our Facebook page. Game on!

Love Bites

INtelligent Nutrients has added Certified Organic Bug Repellent Serum to their repertoire and because the serum smells so darn good, this Certified Organic Perfume Spray accompanies it.

I know, it's kinda early to be discussing bug spray. Especially since I have a snow pile in my back yard that is easily 8 feet tall.
But after this winter, if I don't write about something other than dry, winter skin, nails and hair - I may have to harm myself.

I haven't ever wanted to write about "bug repellants" on my beauty blog before. But, hey, I NEED to write about our Minnesota steamy, hot summer nights. Even if they will bring bugs.

That being said, thank you Horst for launching this product in March!
Here in Minnesota, a "skeet" swarm can easily carry away a small child if they are not nailed down.

Horst says, "it Attracts Love Bites as it Repels Bug Bites." Cute.

We know we're not attracting any "love bites" when we're wearing our DEET infused bug spray. Gross. Read on.

The DEET Truth

DEET is an effective solvent and may dissolve some plastics, rayon, spandex, leather, painted or varnished surfaces including nail-polish.
Insect protection products on the market today contain harmful man-made chemicals such as DEET and pyrethrins. These substances remain in the environment and cause damage to humans, animals, water supplies, soil, and important pollinating insects such as bees.
IN Bug Serum

Their proprietary blend smells so good, 72% described the aroma as enjoyable to extremely enjoyable. Filled with beautifully fragrant top notes of flowery geranium, refreshing peppermint and herbaceous lemongrass rounded out with the warm and woodsy notes of cedar and clove. Rosemary and citronella provide fullness.

What's in it for me?

USDA certified organic personal perfume skillfully crafted to attract humans while at the same time repel biting, stinging, scourging insects. Profoundly unique from the often unpleasant smelling, citrus and citronella scents we have grown to expect, our insect fighting blend is enjoyable to wear even when you don’t need the repelling attributes. Free from drying and dehydrating chemicals, our skin loving and non greasy combination of oils condition and soften while providing moisture resistance. 100% DEET free, formula lets you, your family and pets live and play in and outdoors in a gentle, safe, non-toxic and organic way.

What's in?

USDA Organic Food Grade Sesame, Soy and Castor Oil, Functional Insect Repelling Essential Oils of Geranium, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Cedar, Clove, Rosemary and Citronella.

IN Bug Spray

Purify, Deodorize, Refresh with the Perfume Spray to optimize aromatic benefits.

Great uses:

• Kids
• Skin and Body
• Hair
• Home
• Travel

What's in it for me?

Pair this refreshing and hydrating spray with Bug Repellant Serum for enhanced therapeutic benefits. Filled with beautifully fragrant top notes of flowery geranium, refreshing peppermint and herbaceous lemongrass complemented with warm and woodsy notes of cedar and clove. Rosemary and citronella provide fullness for a truly enjoyable aromatic experience.
The cute little "baby" vampire on the label will remind you that it is safe for kids too.
FYI, my husband LOVES the fragrance of this product.

Female Hair Loss

by Deborah Dunham

If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that we don't like losing our hair. Those extra strands clogging the shower drain or rolling around the bathroom floor like tumbleweeds in the Mojave desert can send us to the mirror in horror, wondering if it's really true: Are we going bald?
OK, maybe not bald for most of us, but thinning hair is equally distressing. Especially when you consider the voluminous manes that virtually every woman walking down the runway or red carpet seems to be sporting.

Some women are inclined to think that hair loss is simply the result of getting older, but quite often, the real culprit behind those falling strands is something completely different. Something you may, in fact, be able to correct!

Let's start with the facts. An estimated 30 million women in the United States suffer from thinning hair. Hair loss affects 50 percent of women over the age of 50. And while it may seem like this is a growing problem among females, in reality, according to Valerie Callender, board certified dermatologist and Nioxin Expert Consultant, it's because more women today are seeking treatment. "This can be traumatic for anyone. Women, in particular, are eager to correct this because it can affect self-esteem, confidence and relationships."

Types of Hair Loss

There are basically four types of hair loss: Female pattern hair loss, which occurs mainly on the vertex and crown area and is a diffuse loss or thinning; traction alopecia, which is the result of hair breakage; alopecia areata, which leads to bald spots; and telogen effluvium, which is a diffuse loss of hair all over.

The type of hair loss you have can result from genetics, a medical condition, lifestyle or other disorder.

Causes of Hair Loss

According to Callender, hair breakage or traction alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. It can result from the overuse of heated styling tools (blow-dryer, flatiron), chemical treatments (hair dyes, perms), or ponytails, extensions or braids that are too tight. Callender said this type of hair loss can be reversed if caught early, but it could also lead to permanent hair loss due to damaged hair follicles.

On the other hand, female pattern hair loss (which is also very common), is largely based on hereditary and postmenopausal factors. Alopecia areata is the result of stress, and telogen effluvium and can be caused by pregnancy, diet, thyroid disorders or anemia. Birth-control pills, surgery or testosterone supplements can also contribute to hair loss.

But the causes don't stop there. Certain scalp disorders can also wreak havoc on your hair.

Seborrheic dermatitis is an exaggerated form of dandruff caused by yeast (malassezia). It can result in inflammation of the hair follicles. After a while, a red, itchy, dry rash develops on the scalp and can also develop on the face as well around the eyebrow area, nose and ears. Recommended treatments include ZPT (zinc pyrithione) shampoos and ketoconazole (or Nizoral) shampoo.

Psoriasis occurs on the scalp and body and is caused by the immune system causing a proliferation of skin cells. Basically, the cells don't shed and build up. Top treatments include a topical cortisone, topical Vitamin D and tar shampoo.

Cicatricial or scarring alopecia is an intense inflammation and permanent destruction of hair follicles. And while the cause is unknown, treatments include doxycycline and topical cortisones.

Some women are inclined to think that hair loss is simply the result of getting older, but quite often, the real culprit behind those falling strands is something completely different.

Hair Loss Treatments

When it comes to treatments, there are many. Some good and some not so good, so it's important to do your homework and not believe everything you see in an advertisement.

Here are the top hair loss treatments she recommends:

Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure in which the hair is taken from the back of the scalp and transferred to top or front. This tends to be a very effective treatment, although the most extreme -- and expensive. Costs range from $5,000 to $8,000.

Nioxin Three-Part Hair and Scalp System is an at-home treatment that runs $40. It essentially helps restore the hair into a healthy condition. Each Nioxin system is customized to address specific hair and scalp needs such as fine, medium to coarse, chemically-treated or natural, normal to thin-looking or noticeably thinning. The three-part process cleanses, restores and activates the hair and scalp to achieve thicker-looking hair and is available at Nioxin salons across the country.

Natural treatments include biotin supplements, iron supplements and a healthy diet. "Don't underestimate the importance of a diet high in protein," said Callender. "This is crucial because protein deficiency causes hair loss." A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids also helps to avoid dry, brittle hair and breakage.

Callender's last piece of advice? Be patient. "Hair grows in cycles and it can take up to six months for hair loss to stop and correct itself. Don't give up on finding a solution that works for you."

Beauty Detective

By Jude Grimm
Bellingham Alive! February 2011

It isn't easy to find products that do not compromise our personal health as well as the Earth's and have the performance to match our expectations.
You won't see these products in full-page magazine ads. You won't see them on television.
They don't smell the same, they often don't look the same and, sometimes, they just don't work.

I am thrilled to say in my sleuthing adventures I have discovered an amazing and intelligent, witty and passionate woman, Michelle Noel of Greenbody Greenplanet products. Noel is the business partner of Lorri Weisen, the founder and formulator of Greenbody Greenplanet.

Noel is a former dermatology clinical educator and has spent the majority of her professional life dedicated to educating dermatologists, pediatricians, immunologists and allergists in topical treatments for dry inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and atomic dermatitis. Through many years of working along side incredible medical minds at the Mayo Clinic and the universities of Minnesota and Iowa, she learned very quickly not only how the skin functions, but most importantly how we are systemically affected by anything we apply to our skin. The most fascinating part of her discoveries was learning about the scalp. Most dermatologists struggle to treat the scalp because of its highly vascular nature. The blood supply to our scalp is in the highest concentration of the human body.
Think about that for a minute or two - whatever is applied to the scalp is immediately and aggressively absorbed into the bloodstream and sent throughout the body. Blood flow brings forth nutrition and healing, as well as disease and toxin distribution.

Noel was committed to being extremely cautious about what was applied to her own hair and head based on this knowledge. She also knew that she could no longer be associated with the company she worked for (even though they were committed to treating these chronic diseases with prescriptions with little or no side effects) and an industry that was not yet committed to
being safe for the environment.

Noel feels the big divide within the medical community continues to be between the "homeopathic" approach to health versus the "scientific" approach.

Noel envisions the lines of separation disappearing as both approaches have beneficial results. She knew personally that she must find a professional hair care line that met her educated safety standards. Her search was over when she was introduced to Lorri Weisen.

Weisen is a like-minded, successful salon owner.
She knows first hand how important performance of products are as well as the impact of exposure from toxins to the human body and the environment. Why?
Because Weisen's husband was ill with an environmentally caused cancer. (Environmental cancers are caused by toxins absorbed through the skin and lungs.) Weisen knew that her husband was in critical need of products that would support and not compromise his immune system and body as it was already inundated. She began a journey of discovering what she could offer herself, her husband, her salon staff and the world, a professional line of personal care products represented with truth and offering performance.

Weisen took more than two years to diligently research and create a professional product line in
alignment with her personal and global requirements.

When you use organic, chemical-free ingredients, you enhance your own physical and psychological well being and your planet Earth as well.

Out of her commitment Greenbody Greenplanet was not only born but brought to marketplace. Greenbody Greenplanet continues to vigorously challenge the excepted status quo, by providing high-quality hair care products manufactured truly toxin free. These organically based products deliver the professional results required for the salon and for the consumer, and dispel the myth that plant-based suds are incapable of performing.
Their products are made with 100 percent certified organic, biodynamic and sustainable ingredients. They are PETA approved, vegan, earth friendly and fair-trade sourced. Greenbody Greenplanet uses no petrochemicals including sulphates, parabens, fragrance or propylene glycol - they are green from seed to shelf. When you use organic, chemical-free ingredients, you enhance your own physical and psychological well being and your planet Earth as well.

May I remind you, once again, to turn your bottles over and read the ingredients. You too can become your own "Real Beauty" ™ detective.

Who Owns What?

Bet you didn't know this (original post).

Excerpt:
Aside from recognizing that they're all beauty brands, you probably don't often link Kiehl's, Maybelline and La Roche-Posay. Or Olay, Covergirl and SK-II. Or La Mer, MAC and Clinique. Each of these brands has a very clear, unique identity that is defined by what kind of products they make, where they're sold, how they're priced, what kind of person buys them, how they're packaged, and a number of other factors.

But that's only because the marketers behind these major brands have been so successful in conditioning consumers to think about the brand in these terms. What we're encouraged to ignore is that each of these brand groupings is owned by the same corporation. Kiehl's, Maybelline and La Roche-Posay couldn't be more different brands, but they're all owned and produced by L'Oreal. Same goes for Olay, Covergirl and SK-II, all Proctor & Gamble brands. And if you thought that Estee Lauder was only a department store makeup brand, you might be surprised to learn that the company owns 27 beauty brands, including La Mer, MAC and Clinique.

The beauty industry is dominated by a few key players, all multi-billion dollar corporations with ownership over multiple major brands. Here's how it breaks down:

L'Oreal: 2005 revenues of $19.78 billion U.S. dollars. Only owns cosmetics, haircare and fragrance brands (29 in total).

Brands: Kérastase, L'Oréal Professionnel, L'Oréal Technique, Matrix, Mizani, Redken, L'Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline New York, SoftSheen-Carson, Biotherm, The Body Shop, Cacharel, Diesel Perfumes, Giorgio Armani Parfums and Cosmetics, Guy Laroche, Helena Rubinstein, Kiehl's, Lancôme, Paloma Picasso, Ralph Lauren, Shu Uemura, Victor et Rolf parfum, Dermablend, La Roche-Posay, SkinCeuticals, Vichy Laboratoires, Innéov, Ombrelle.

Proctor & Gamble: 2006 revenues of $68.222 billion U.S. dollars (this includes all brands). Beauty sales alone equaled $21.1 billion. P&G sells many different kinds of consumer products (their brands range from Tide to Gillette to Pampers to Iams to Tampax and many, many more). You can read the entire list here.

Beauty Brands: Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Olay, Pantene, Wella, Aussie, Clairol, CoverGirl, Herbal Essense, Infusium 23, Ivory Soap, Max Factor, Natural Instincts, Nice'n Easy, Noxzema, Secret, SK-II, Vidal Sassoon.

Estee Lauder: 2006 revenues of $6.746 billion U.S. dollars. Only sells cosmetics, haircare and fragrance products.

Brands: American Beauty, Aramis, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and bumble, Clinique, Daisy Fuentes, Darphin, Donald Trump The Fragrance, Donna Karan, Estée Lauder, Flirt!, Good Skin, Grassroots, Jo Malone, Lab Series, La Mer, Kiton, MAC Cosmetics, Michael Kors, MISSONI, Origins, Prescriptives, Rodan and Fields, Sean John, Tommy Hilfiger, Coach Fragrances.

Unilever: 2006 revenues of $53.97 billion U.S. dollars. Sells food, beverage, cleaning and personal care consumer products.

Beauty Brands: Caress, Degree, Dove, Lever 2000, Pond's, Suave, Sunsilk, Vaseline.

Johnson & Johnson: 2006 revenues of $53 billion U.S. dollars. Manufactures consumer packaged goods, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Beauty brands: Aveeno, Clean and Clear, Neutrogena.

Avon: 2006 revenues of $8.1 billion U.S. dollars. Sells cosmetics, fragrances and some clothing and jewelry.

Beauty brands: Avon Color, Anew and Solutions, Skin So Soft and Naturals, Avon Fragrances, mark.

Certainly there are other important corporations that stand alone, such as Revlon (2006 revenues of $1.33 billion). But when you consider just how many brands are controlled by a few companies, it's pretty mind-boggling.

So what good is this information and how does it useful to you as a consumer?

I've always argued that the more you know about beauty products and the beauty industry, the smarter your purchases will be. When you consider that the huge team of people doing research and development for L'Oreal are developing formulas that can be used in Garnier shampoo ($3.99) and Kerastase shampoo ($29.99), you realize that it's a good idea to start comparing products at different price points. Often two products from two different brands will have the same patent number (Pantene and Herbal Essence conditioners, for example). The difference is in the non-active ingredients, which give it a unique texture, scent, color, etc.

Maybe it's time to really consider independent beauty brands.

Nailed @ the Oscars

Hollywood's Green Celebrity Nail Stylist, Jenna Hipp, has done it again. This time for the Oscars!

Minnesota's own, NONTOXIQUE Age Reversal Serum and Cuticle & Nail Balm, were used on stars as they readied for the big night - including Gennifer Goodwin, Jennifer Lawrence (also for Golden Globes) and Rachel McAdams.

If you are looking for the best skincare for your hands and feet, it doesn't get any better.