The 3 Free Nail Polish 411 and Wacky Laki

Wacky Laki - Nail polish Queen and Crafty too !

Love this girl's blogging on nails. I gotta learn stamping now that I have ALL my nail polishes changed out to completely 3-Free, like Zoya (my fave), Sinful Colors, LA Colors, Butter London, Debra Lippman, OPI For Sephora (not regular OPI) OPI Nicole, some Ulta lines and others, with more and more coming on the market.

What's 3 Free ?

Healthy Nail Polish in all the great long lasting colors, without the harmful cancer causing chemicals.

The chemicals we’re talking about are Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde and Toluene.
What do they do?

Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) is a plasticiser to prevent chips and cracks. DBP is an oily liquid that is soluble in fat and slightly soluble in water. It is not very volatile so it does not evaporate readily into the atmosphere.
Over 75% of DBP is used as a plasticiser in polymers such as PVC, 14% is used in adhesives, 7% in printing inks and 3% in other miscellaneous uses, including sealants and grouting agents used in construction as well as consumer products such as cosmetics.
http://www.greenfacts.org/glossary/def/DBP-dibutyl-phthalate.htm
It's NOT a good thing for your body to be absorbing and sniffing in... AT ALL.


Formaldehyde itself is not in pure form in nail polish. A resin, tosylamide/formaldehyde resin that is in polishes, makes the polish tough and resilient. While the resin is manufactured from formaldehyde, once the product becomes a resin, the formaldehyde is chemically changed and essentially no longer present in pure form, but still a carcinogen. If you rarely use nail polish, it may not actually be an issue unless you have a reaction to the formaldehyde resin, but seriously, who wants that absorbed into your body when it's completely unnecessary.
Formaldehyde pure is used in some nail hardeners, you should be very aware of formaldehyde in your treatment products and AVOID THEM, not so much polish if you don't polish your nails all the time, but bottom line, stay away.


Toluene (methylbenzene, toluol, phenylmethane) is a solvent that makes the polish easy to apply. It is an aromatic hydrocarbon commonly used as an industrial solvent for the manufacturing of paints, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and rubber.
Toluene is found in gasoline, acrylic paints, varnishes, lacquers, paint thinners, adhesives, glues, rubber cement, airplane glue, and shoe polish. At room temperature, toluene is a colorless, sweet smelling, volatile liquid.
Glue sniffing anyone ? No, we didn't think so...


http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic594.htm

If you have questions or just want recommendations, drop me an email, comment or facebook note

Ciao!

from a
Bona Fide Glam Junkie

Don't forget to pamper your guests with glam !

I'm throwing a Summer Evening party shortly and it made me think of things I don't usually have on hand that would make guests feel comfortable.
For instance, DO NOT leave your nasty old soap out in the soap dish in the guest bathroom. Get something pampering and luxurious and that hasn't been somewhere we don't want to think about (ick, right?)

I got these guest soaps from Touch of Europe(just my fave online store for SO many things, because they have such unique stuff and it's affordable). There's a great review that tells you more about them, from a happy customer.

Don't forget nice Fragrant Candles in the bathroom. Make sure it's a contained one, like a jar or tin for fire safety, so you can leave it burning on a safe surface (away from towels, flammables or wobbly surfaces) and it's nice for guests in those... uhhh.. odor situations.

Then there's things like napkins. small but important.
I know buying a box 800,000 from Costco is pretty cheap, but they shred, stick to everything and where are you gonna store the 799,980 leftovers ? Huh? Now if you want something nice, that will stand up to getting your guests clean from sticky BBQ sauce or beautiful confit with cheese (divine but messy), WITHOUT shredding into an embarrassing mess and sticky fingers on your furniture, spring for some nice, good quality napkins.
The cheap ones end up costing as much because guests need a LOT more of them (then you still have the storage problem for the 799,900 leftovers).
The 2 or 3 ply thick, quality napkins come in gorgeous patterns to suit any theme or decor, often come in economy packs and different sizes (so you can have cocktail, dinner and luncheon napkins all matching, even table runners for some).
So unless you're hosting hundreds of people, there is no excuse, they are NOT expensive and much more comfortable and special for your guests.
I got these (below) in the olives pattern for the Panna Cotta, Cheese and Confit dessert table and some Punch Studio ones with matching coasters for dinner and beverages.

So make your guests feel comfortable and special... and you have half the recipe for a great party !

If you have questions or just want recommendations, drop me an email, comment or facebook note

Ciao!

from a
Bona Fide Glam Junkie

SlamPost : Greenscape Organic Homemade Body Polish or Cream

Greenscape Organic Homemade Body Polish or Cream

Especially the Body Polish - Nothing makes a real OR fake tan look better than properly exfoliated skin and this is THE most divine way of getting that glow. Organic, smells great, free from petrochemicals, sulphates, parabens, glycols, and synthetic colors, easy to use, just apply with fingers and massage in, on a wash cloth for extra exfoliation or on a loofa or scrub mit for ultimate skin sloughing then rinse off ! Do this before a fake tan and after a real one to get your skin glowing.

Lemon, Corn and Dandelion skin refining body polish. Beneficial multigrain goodness. A cream which boosts micro circulation as it removes impurities and dead skin cells. Rice and corn particles with organic avocado oil, and shea butter. Combine with a blend of multigrain cereals to leave skin deeply cleansed.
500 ml / 17 fl oz.

Body Cream - Bergamot, Kiwi and Wheat luminescent multigrain goodness. Enriched with natural ingredients this body cream is anti-oxidant and vitamin rich Bergamot, Kiwi, Wheat and organic avocado and cocoa butter combine with a blend of multigrain cereals to leave skin soft, supple and radiant. 500 ml / 17 fl oz.


As with all the products in this line, free from petrochemicals, sulphates, parabens, glycols, and synthetic colors.

If you have questions or just want recommendations, drop me an email, comment or facebook note

Ciao!

from Chez
a Bona Fide Glam Junkie

Beachy Waves - Casual summer easy hair styling

Yep, no one does the messy beachy waves better than Kate Hudson, but it's honestly not that hard to do and the messier, the better, so have at it and give the flat iron a rest now and then. Once you've got the hang of it, it's really a hassle free, wind and summer friendly hair-do :)

Fact is, messy waves is a "do" that you can stretch for a few days with minor touch up's if you have the right hair and do the right thing overnight. If you don't, then it's more of a one day style, but you might be surprised at how your baby fine, straight, thin hair will hold a messy curl and take a touch up the next day if you use the right products and understand the fundamentals of how this style works.

Step 1. It helps if you have highlights both for the messy blonde overall look and because it will be dryer and hold product better. 
If you are North Metro Denver Local, go see anyone at Escape Uptown (http://www.facebook.com/escapeuptown). They ROCK and have a current special on for June and July 2011 for $10 off highlights !
If you don't have light highlights or colored hair and your hair is healthy and silky it all still works, just maybe you'll need more product and it won't last as long OR you opt for silky waves, rather than messy beachy waves, but the key is TEXTURIZING your hair to hold that messy wave. At the beach, it's the salt in the water and fast sun drying that does it, but we're going for something a little silkier and less fried looking.

Step 2. In the evening or a few hours before going out, wash and condition as normal, towel dry (DO NOT BRUSH OR COMB IT), scrunch in your moisture protecting repairing serum (I use ICON Serum or AG Liquid Varnish Smoothing Polish which moisturizes and gives high shine without weight), or argan oil etc if you use it (and you should be using something),  but scrunch it in SPARINGLY.


Then LIGHTLY spritz some volumizing or texturizing spray that is kind to your hair. I LOVE these and have used them all
Icon CURE available at Escape Uptown - technically a moisturizer but sprays out a creamy odd sort of liquid and actually works really well to give texture to naturally frizzy or wavy hair like mine, adding moisture.
otherwise use Sally Hershberger Supreme Lift for Normal to Thin Hair 
or AG Spray Body Soft Hold Volumizer


Let your hair air dry for a while until it's still a little damp, then gather it all up on the top of your head (crown) and twist it tightly into a spiral, right to the ends, probably wrapping the spiral around itself into a bun thing if you have med, to long hair (it will take a few shots first time), then use a claw clip and secure it so it's comfy on top of your head to sleep in and won't unravel.

What this does, is keep the top of your hair pretty evenly straight and where it's twisted, it will dry and form waves from, about ear tops down and will stop where you stop the twist on the ends. But make sure it's ON TOP OF YOUR CROWN, right at that place where you would pull a high, tight ponytail, NOT where someone would smack you in the back of the head. 

Step 3. In the morning, or after it's completely dry, spritz your twist again, just a bit (uncurl it from around itself if you made a bun, but don't un-twist it yet) with a texturizing spray and let that dry (or add a little blow dry heat), BEFORE you let it un-twist.


Step 4. Un-twist it and gently shake out with your fingers, NOT pulling on the waves. Then use Beach Blow Texturzing Mist without or with a blow dryer on low, with a diffuser from as far away as you can stretch... and gently blow dry (or not) using your fingers to create tousled texture. Blow tip: Apply in sections after blow drying and "scrunch" to form natural waves. 


Step 5. For a perfect finish, flat iron the crown sections of hair a bit (and your bangs if you have them), stopping where the waves start - see above how Kate Hudson's is kind of straight and has some lift and volume on the top, then falls in straggly waves. This gives you a glossy crown and good shape and you can tidy up any renegade cow licks. 
If you have medium to long hair, feel free to use a large barrel curling iron too, just depends on how your hair looks and what needs tidying or finishing for your look. A large barrel curling iron will also help if you want to change it up with some more defined, tousled waves thrown in, (which Kate has in hers above) and fully like Giselle below. Use the iron pointing straight up vertical and wrapping the hair in a spiral (in or outwards, either/or), but not curling from a horizontal position.


Step 6. Finish with a medium or light hold hairspray like Bamboo Organic Smooth Anti-Humidity Hairspray which is moisturizing but anti-humidity and no parabens, mineral oil or nasties in it. You want beachy waves, not frizz, hence the Anti-Humidity Hairspray . 
Just a light spray, a dusting really AND lift the top layers and spray some upward towards your scalp at the roots. That's the trick they never tell you that keeps the style going. This will give volume, movement and that nice not-stuck-to-your-head shape (see pic below, some volume and texture makes a lovely difference, although Giselle is a little more polished here than "beachy waves"). You can also opt to rub on a paste or molding goop under there at your scalp for hold and volume and don't forget the back layer.

Side notes: 
If you want any of these products from Ulta, they have Free shipping on $25+ with code 51532
I have personally used all of the products and techniques and they work, but it does of course depend on your hair length, condition and type. Adjust products and methods accordingly and it may take a couple of tries to get it right for you, but it's then a hassle free, wind and summer friendly hair-do :)
This is also my Go-TO for the day after I've flat-ironed straight and humidity has gotten to it overnight. I spritz Biomega Moisture Mist by Aquage without washing, twist and do the rest of the steps and it looks FABBO !


No one gave me any of the products mentioned to plug, they're all in my arsenal (or were), that I purchased. I am partial to Ulta for free shipping, discounts, samples, rewards, range and pricing (honestly that have more and are as good as Sephora online) AND partial to my own stylists at Escape Uptown, because I know them and can recommend any one there confidently.


My hair is long, thin, fine, highlighted, a bit damaged and has some natural unattractive frizz... this is what works on it.

If you have questions or just want recommendations, drop me an email, comment or facebook note

Ciao!

from Chez
a Bona Fide Glam Junkie

Marseille Soap

I LOVE this stuff, use it a lot (as well as a fave shower gel), especially in a bath because it's SO moisturising and there are divine colors and scents, however, even though it's not terribly expensive and really lasts, beware imitations that don't give you the benefits of this time honored Marseille Soap and how it's made and probably more important, what it's made with.

So if you've always wondered or never heard of it, do yourself a favor and get some .. read on as to why !

How Marseille Soap is made

• Marseille Soap is a delicate mixture of olive oil and vegetable oils, alkaline ash (derived from sea plants) and salted water from the Mediterranean.
• Originally only olive oil was used (and failure to do so was punishable by law), but when manufacturing processes introduced the use of soda in the soap, other oils were introduced to prevent the soap being too hard and brittle.
• First step is the emulsion of the oils and lye in large vats.
• The mixture is slowly heated in cauldrons.
• Impurities are removed from the cauldron in a complex filtering process (carried out three times).
• When to pour and let it harden is a closely guarded secret, passed down from one Master to the next.
• Marseille is the center of the manufacturing of the soap, and this industry also spun off a candle manufacturing, using by products of the soap manufacturing process. The process has also been exported to other countries, and Marseille Soap can be produced in Italy as well as France, for example.
• The soap is cooled and cut into cubes and stamps before being set out to dry and harden outside.
• Auithentic Marseille Soap is stamped with the name and also the weight of the soap in grams. 

This is my fave, the Le Pere Pelletier Savon De Marseille Soap in the old style container (which resides in my rustic kitchen) and one I use a lot, as well as the large lavender block. I cut them with a heated knife into smaller blocks. It is SUCH good value

 Types of Marseille soap

• Traditionally the cubes are green or white.  The white cubes are usually made with palm oil and the green ones with at least 50% olive oil. 
• Now colored cubes are also available, with lavender scent and other scents.
• Both types are very moisturizing and gentle, suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

    

 Why use Marseille soap ?

• It is all natural and still gentle. This soap can be used for babies and for the most sensitive skins.
• It is used in French households for everything from laundry to washing faces (and helps sensitive skins for people with allergies, so try it in laundry too). Many use it as a shampoo as well.
• Dermatologists recommend it!
• Vegetable oils means the soap is bio-degradable and less harmful to the environment.
• Not tested on Animals
• Economical. Even taking importing and shipping into consideration, Marseille Soap is still remarkably cost effective and lasts longer than most soaps.
• For ease of use, you can cut onto smaller pieces, or shave into flakes.

If you have questions or just want recommendations, drop me an email, comment or facebook note

Ciao!

from Chez
a Bona Fide Glam Junkie