Category Archives: Beauty

Beauty

Skin Deep Beauty & Gel Nail Manicures

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The holiday season will be upon us in a relatively short time.  Manicures, and makeup will be in full force for those of us attending parties and trying to look our ‘best‘.  For some people, that also means getting their nails done at a nail salon.

In  a recent inquiry from a family friend, I was asked about my Gel Manicure, and why I would take the ‘health risk’ of having them done. This re-ignited a conversation and a revisit to learning more about this ‘beauty’ subject.  The last time I researched and wrote about  this topic on Hairblues was in 2012, https://hairblues.me/2012/12/10/gel-manicured-nails-dos-donts/

I believe that those of us who continue to get these type of manicures mostly do so because of the convenience not to have their nails done weekly, or worrying about whether it will last until the event.  We’ve all had the experience of ‘messing up’ a new manicure after a few days (or minutes).

  • I felt it was time for me to look at this topic again since it keeps coming up, and my research revealed that the safety guidelines are all over the place. This question is certainly worth exploring.  It may be that not having gel manicures frequently is worth considering, or maybe not having them at all.  It’s also a good idea to have your dermatologist take a look at your hands/nails when you have your yearly skin exam, which I wrote about last year. https://hairblues.me/2018/01/12/healthwise-new-year-checkups/

Below are some of the highlights of my research in bullet form.  As always, click the source links for a detailed explanation.

♦ Women may think LED devices skip or minimize the ultraviolet light, which is misleading. https://www.today.com/health/are-gel-manicures-safe-what-know-about-uv-exposure-skin-t154294

♦ Melanonychia is when you have brown or black lines on your nails. These lines can also be a natural occurrence if you have a dark complexion. https://www.healthline.com/health/melanonychiahttps://www.healthline.com/health/melanonychia

♦ It’s a good idea to periodically give your gel manicure a vacation. https://www.bustle.com/articles/132861-7-gel-manicure-truths-to-

♦ Wear SPF of 30 or higher to protect your hands when getting a gel manicure. https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/nail-care/manicure-safety/gel-manicures

♦ Any manicure left in place for an extended period of time is not a good idea. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/news/20130301/gel-manicures-durable-but-can-cause-lasting-problems#1

♦ YouVeeShield gloves can protect your hands from gel manicures. Take a look at this website for more information. https://www.youveeshield.com/.

FYI – Cruelty Free Nail Polish
https://ethicalelephant.com/vegan-nailpolish/

Stay beautiful safely!

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Beauty

Is Sunscreen for Darker Skin People Necessary?

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It was a very hot and sunny day when I went for a walking exercise and ‘mindfulness‘ escape. I was about to cross a street when two women who were driving a convertible car stopped to let me cross. They were brown-skin , and neither person had on a hat. I suspect they probably did not have on sunscreen because they were dressed very nicely.  As beautiful as they looked, I  was concerned to think that  they had not  ‘protected’ themselves from the sun while in the car.  Consequently, I  walked back to tell one of the women that she should protect her head and put on a hat.  Although she thanked me, she probably thought that I was a little meddlesome  (which was due to my concern).

♥ There is a misunderstanding about African-Americans and some Hispanics not needing sunscreen. Although  darker-skin people  have more melanin, they can get sun-burned and get skin cancer.  The great Jamaican Reggae artist Bob Marley was diagnosed with Melanoma, which was located under a toenail.  Yes!  Melanoma shows up differently for dark skin persons. That means regardless of your color you should be wearing sunscreen to protect you from the sun.

For those of you who get annoyed with sunscreens (which can leave a white film on darker skin) there’s sunscreen for you as well.

♥ Gossier has a product which is cruelty-free and does not leave a film on dark skin.  Take a look at the YouTube video below for details and a high recommendation.

Sources: 
♣  https://skincancer.net/clinical/sun-exposure-driving/
♣ https://www.sharecare.com/health/sun-care/sunscreen-african-americans
♣ https://www.byrdie.com/best-sunscreen-for-dark-skin
♣ https://www.glossier.com/

 

 

 

Beauty, Hair Care, In the Know

Cruelty-Free Shampoo

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Summertime is probably the season when we wash our hair most frequently.  ♥ In keeping with our search for cruelty-free beauty products, I found some appealing hair care suggestions from Cruelty Free Kitty and Clean Green Simple, which I am sure will satisfy your personal requirements for using cruelty-free products.  Click on the links below for more information .

Happy Summer!

♣ Cruelty Free Kitty.com
♣ https://cleangreensimple.com/products/

¿ Not sure what to do about your shampoo?  Check out the My Beauty Bunny website at this link :
♣ https://mybeautybunny.com/how-do-i-find-out-if-a-brand-is-cruelty-free/

 

 

Beauty

Sunscreen That’s FDA Grase

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The safe sunscreen  conversation continues to be more complicated, which I learned in a recent New York Times article.  It turns out that Oxbenzone and octinoxate have been found to affect ‘disrupt’ our hormones.  Yes! Of course, it does makes sense that this could happen since it’s damaging the coral layer of the ocean.

In the article, it mentions that chemicals may affect : endocrine disruption, high rate of allergic reaction, cancer.  We can agree that this is serious enough to be concerned, and that we should pay attention and focus on using products, which are FDA GRASE (generally recognized as safe and effective).
For starters, listed below are some ingredients and products, which are GRASE:
◊ zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
◊ New products: REN Clean Skincare Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 Face Sunscreen. ($36)
◊ Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30 ($34)

There’s a lot more to learn about these chemicals and how to transition to products, which are deemed safer for our planet and personal well-being.

Source: The New York Times, May 23. 2019
SunScreen and Its Possible Dangers, by Rachel Felder

Read more at:

Beauty

ADOPT A CORAL REEF & Sunscreen Advice

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Hello Everyone,

Now that we know something about how Coral Reefs contribute to our planet’s well-being, and  which sunscreens are best to use to protect our Coral Reefs,   I want to let you know that you can Adopt A Coral Reef

♥ Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, and Dr. Sejal Shah, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City provide us with suggestions on how to apply sunscreen.
For example, do you know whether you should apply sunscreen before or after your moisturizer?

The Verdict

OK, but seriously, should you put on your SPF before or after moisturizer? Both Zeichner and Shah agree on a little trick to get the best of both worlds: Apply a light moisturizer first, let it soak in completely, and finally finish with your SPF. “My best recommendation is to double-dip and layer a moisturizer with sunscreen first” — let it fully absorb — “and then layer another straight sunscreen, be it a mineral or chemical blocker, on top,” says Zeichner.
Source: https://www.allure.com/story/when-to-apply-sunscreen-before-or-after-moisturizer

Beauty, In the Know

SPF Sunscreen for Coral Reefs & Earthling Beauties

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Earth Day
(April 20, 2019)
makes us aware that we all are responsible for our planet’s well-being.

I often use this time of year to  research the ‘best’ SPF products for our skin during the summer months.

  1. I have learned that SPF products are among those, which are harming the planet’s  Coral Reefs.  In July of 2018, Hawaii became the first U.S. state to ban the sale of sunscreens containing two common chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, which many researchers worldwide have deemed potentially harmful to aquatic life. https://www.consumerreports.org/sunscreens/the-truth-about-reef-safe-sunscreen/

    2. A coral reef is an underwater
    ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups.
    An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef

With that unexpected news, I took the precaution to find out which sunscreens may help you  be a better Earthling when you buy SPF products  to protect your skin and the skin of your family members.

Below are a few Cruelty  and Coral Reef safe Sunscreens.
Click each link  for more details.

Sources:

Beauty, Healthcare

Foot Massage with Essential Oils (Yummy)

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In keeping with finding new ways to take care of ourselves (and not only with cruelty free makeup and makeup tools), I am delighted to share with you that I have a “win + win” idea to enhance your well-being.  That’s right! And you can step right up and take advantage it of it.

♦ According to research, a foot massage can deliver  these benefits: reduce stress; pain relief from the side effects of chemotherapy; multiple sclerosis; and, reduce high blood pressure.

Those of you who follow the HairBlues blog know that I am a certified aromatherapist/aromatherapy enthusiast.  I continue to study Complementary and Alternative Methods (CAM), which can be used to aid us with our health/wellness issues.  Aromatherapy and the use of  Essential Oils are on that list. As a Certified Aromatherapist, I continue to learn through the  study of  essential oils about the  therapeutic benefits these plant-based products can offer.

Continue reading Foot Massage with Essential Oils (Yummy) →

Beauty

What is Green Makeup?

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Those of you who have been interested in our on-going conversation about  “Cruelty Free’ makeup may also have come across  some cosmetics, which claim to be “Green” . In addition, you may have seen cosmetics advertised as ‘organic’ and “certified organic”.  Below are some descriptions on what these terms mean.  As always, click on the source links for detailed descriptions.

♣ Cosmetics that don’t have any chemical emulsifiers, binders, synthetics, fillers, or paraben preservatives and that use botanicals and minerals, says Jessa Blades, a professional green-makeup artist, based in New York City.

♣ “Green makeup does not have the chemical ingredients that make mascara waterproof or lipstick last all day, so you’ll have to reapply more often,” she says. “Long-wear products are a red flag.”
Source: https://www.organicspamagazine.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-green-makeup/

♣ Green cosmetics, also known as bio cosmetics or eco-friendly makeup, are cosmetics that are generally manufactured using all-natural, non-toxic ingredients. Many green cosmetics use naturally occurring mineral ingredients for coloring and sun protection purposes. Source: https://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-green-cosmetics.htm

The list is quite long for cosmetics that claim to be organic.  Below is a link to a detailed description of certification which is 100 percent organic, versus just organic. Also included are logos indicating “organic” from various countries:
US, France, Germany, Canada to name a few.
Organic Certification of Cosmetics

Beauty

Cruelty Free: Makeup & Shaving Brushes

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Happy New Year to you all!  Have you made any New Year’s resolutions that you think you can keep?

Since my last post, I have continued my research on “cruelty-free” products that relate to our beauty regimen and the choices we are making to render ourselves beautiful.

So with that in mind, I decided to check what our makeup brushes are made out of. How many of us have actually thought about where our makeup brushes come from? What is used to make them?  This might make you feel a little uncomfortable, but it turns out that makeup brushes are often made from animal hair! That’s right. Squirrel hair, and badger hair.  Badger hair is in fact used for some of the best and expensive shaving brushes!  So guys, you also should be thinking about what you are using to shave that handsome face in the morning. According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) shaving products can also have animal derived ingredients. Continue reading Cruelty Free: Makeup & Shaving Brushes →

Beauty

Cruelty Free Cosmetics for Holiday Beauties!

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Since my post about Governor Jerry Brown’s  signing of the  Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act in California scheduled to go into effect January, 2020, I’ve been pleasantly introduced to a whole cosmetics world I was not in touch with. And, I must admit that I am so happy to continue my voyage towards  being aware of what this could mean for many of us who are looking to support the environment, be kind to animals, and feel gratified that the products we are purchasing guide us toward a more healthful way of conducting our beauty regimen. Because I think this is important for us to be aware of, I will continue in the New Year (2019) to report on my findings and introduce you to many more options for making this choice in the future.

♥ Recently, CoverGirl announced that they will join the Cruelty-Free cosmetics industry.  In order to do this, they had to choose not to sell their products in China.   You may recall that American and European companies that sell their products in China are subject to compulsory animal testing.  However, Cruelty Free International has launched a pilot for Leaping Bunny certified cosmetics to sell in China.  This could have a huge impact on cosmetics companies around the world.

♥ Take a look at the CoverGirl  collections  just in time to makeup for the parties this holiday season and in the New Year ♥  Stay beautiful!
https://www.covergirl.com/en_us/collection-makeup/

Source documents: 
https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/is-covergirl-cruelty-free/
https://crueltyfreeinternational.org/