Friday Face off - Concealers!

Another new feature for the blog. On Fridays I will try to compare two products from different natural brands and take a look at their ingredients and how they work. And of course I'll put my two cents in on which one I think works best.

First up - concealers. I love concealers, I could give up foundation, but not concealer. Tarte and Korres are two great natural brands. They both offer great concealers, with similar applicators. Korres has their Wild Rose Concealer and Tarte offers They Eraser Concealer. Since we hit Wild Rose in our Natural Know How last entry, let's start with the Korres Wild Rose Concealer.

Manufacturer's description:



A concealer that provides to intense coverage for skin imperfections and dark circles, as well as treating hyperpigmentation and the first signs of aging.What it does:Korres Wild Rose Concealer contains ultra-fine pigments that reflect light in multiple directions for a luminous effect. Wild Rose extract increases skin radiance and moisture while also offering antioxidant benefits and diminishing fine lines, wrinkles, and hyper-pigmentation. This brand favorite is clinically proven to brighten, firm, and hydrate skin while functioning as an eyeshadow base and preventing creasing. What it is formulated WITHOUT: Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Dye, Synthetic Fragrance, Petro-Chemicals, Phthalates, GMOs, Triclosan. What else you need to know: Skin that benefits from the Wild Rose Collection: Skin that has newly developed expression lines, is environmentally stressed, needs all-day hydration, or has post-acne problems. This product does not contain mineral oils, propylene glycols and ethanolomines.

Tarte's The Eraser Concealer:



This concealer contains Skinvigorating™ ingredients like safflower seed oil, a vegetable-derived oil that has moisturizing capabilities, and arnica flower extract, which is known to reduce the appearance of dark undereye circles. The concealer also contains cucumber extract, known for skin-soothing properties, vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps prevent premature signs of aging, and vitamin E, an antioxidant that acts as anti-inflammatory emollient. Dermatologist-tested. What it does: Unlike other concealers that just cover the problem, Tarte The Eraser Smooth Concealer contains Skinvigorating™ ingredients that help treat and soothe irritated skin and blemishes. What it is formulated WITHOUT: Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petro-Chemicals, and Phthalates

Each of these has a brush applicator. I hate brush applicators. I hate the twisting, and the bristles on the brushes feel very plastic and strange to me. Neither of the applicators on these concealers changed my opinion on brush applicators. I don't know about you, but I usually toss the brushes that come with blushes or powder foundations. But you can't toss the brushes on these because they are attached! Boo!

Overall, they both offer great brightening, and are especially effective under the eyes. For me, I think I'll stick with the Korres, their lightest shade is very well suited for someone pale such as myself. The concealer itself was incredibly smooth and gliding right over my skin. The Tarte color was slightly off, and the coverage didn't look as natural, and didn't layer as well as the Korres.

The Tarte Eraser Concealer is available for $22, at $20 the Korres Wild Rose Concealer is a slightly better buy. Sephora carries both lines, and they are also available online if you don't have a Sephora near you.

Cheers!

The Diving Loon

Natural Know How: Wild Rose

I am starting a new feature called, "Natural Know How." In each "Natural Know How" entry I will focus on a particular natural ingredient used in skincare or cosmetics, explain where it's derived from, it's purpose, and the pros and cons of the ingredient.

For my first entry, I chose wild rose. Wild rose is a super hip ingredient, and you see it in tons of natural products on the market today. "Wild rose" is usually referring to wild rose oil.

Rose contains high concentrations of Vitamin C and is often use as a brightening and moisturizing agent.

Korres Wild Rose Brightening Regimen is available at Sephora for $39.50, and you get a ton for the money.

The kit includes a 0.68 oz Wild Rose Cream, 0.68 oz Wild Rose Serum, 0.68 oz Wild Rose Mask, 0.68 oz White Tea Cleanser, and a 0.34 oz Evening Primrose Eye Cream in a signature gift box. I love kits, it's a great value and you get to try a lot of different products in smaller sizes. Plus, they are perfectly formulated to give you the desired results.

The best part is the Korres Wild Rose Regimen Kit is dermatologist tested, and free of mineral oil, silicone, propylene glycol, and ethanolamines.



Cheers!

The Diving Loon

Yes to Carrots - Hydrating Body Lotion with SPF 30

I am a huge sunscreen fan. I wear sunscreen when it snows, when it rains, and sometimes even when I go out at night. Now how could such a forgetful person remember to wear sunscreen all the time? Well, I rely on double duty products. I will not buy a foundation or a day time face lotion that doesn't have spf. It's one of my requirements. However, most of the time I forget to slather sunscreen on my arms, shoulders, or legs if they are exposed - because I don't have a double duty product! Yes to Carrots now has a body lotion that comes with an spf of 30!



Yes to Carrots Hydrating Body Lotion with SPF 30 is free of parabens, SLS, and petroleum. I was pretty pleased with my test run - no burns to report after a day in the sun. However, because the sun protection factor comes from zinc oxide, you do get a bit of a white cast on the skin, so make sure you rub it in completely. It's also pretty thick, so you'll definitely need to give it some time to absorb. Yes to Carrots Hydrating Body Lotion with SPF 30 also contains kaolin clay which gives it a nice matte finish (no greasy feel).

You can get Yes to Carrots Hydrating Body Lotion with SPF 30 at most drugstores for about $14.00.

Cheers!

The Diving Loon

Beets! Bears! Battlestar Gallatica!

Forget Chocolate Rain!


Chocolate Sun is an all-natural, organic, chemical-free, sunless tanning solution. Chocolate Sun uses Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which is a natural ingredient derived from - get this - beet sugar!! Dwight Schrute would be so proud. Not only that, Chocolate Sun also has an SPF of 30.

You can purchase Chocolate Sun at Spirit Beauty Lounge. Chocolate Sun is priced as affordable as other luxury tanners, the body lotion runs $40.00 and the facial gel is priced at $17.00.

They also have an entire line of other natural products to extend the life of your tan.



Cheers!

The Diving Loon

Eco-Style: My Picks

I have been known to waste a lot of time creating "looks" on Shopstyle. If you've never used shopstyle be sure to check it out (and follow me of course)! I preapologize for the drop in your productivity.

Anyway, what makes Shopstyle so great is that you can search for any keyword and it will bring you clothing, decor, makeup items, shoes, scarves... you name it... from all over the web that match your query.

As you can imagine, that makes it super perfect for searching the web for recycled content, sustainable, and/or organic fabric clothing. You can also search for specific clothing materials - like bamboo or hemp. Here's a few of my favorite "green" picks.

More The Battalion...

How amazing is that Leanne Marshall bamboo tunic!? It also comes in royal blue. Lust.

Cheers!

The Diving Loon

Toxics Reform in the House

Since I just posted about this topic yesterday I thought I would copy and paste an email that I received from the Environmental Working Group.

Dear Elizabeth,
We have huge news.
The toxics reform bill, H.R. 5820, the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Chairmen Waxman (CA-30) and Rush (IL-01). Toxics reform is now moving through both houses of Congress. It has never been more important for Congress to know that we want the strongest and most effective toxics bill possible -- we need companies to prove that chemicals are safe before they hit our supermarket shelves.
95,000 EWG Action Fund supporters like you have already called on Congress to enact change -- and we've got Washington's attention. Now, in this crucial moment of introduction, we need to reach 100,000 signatures to make sure our legislators make this bill strong and effective.
We're just 5,000 signatures away, and we need you to add your name right now.
Click here to sign our petition urging Congress to support this critical reform.
This reform is long overdue. In May, the President's Cancer Panel released a new report on exposure to chemicals and the risk of developing cancer. While their findings may be nothing new to you and me -- especially that children are more susceptible than adults to carcinogens and endocrine disruptors -- it is a clear call to Congress to take action now.
The nearly 300 chemicals that EWG found when testing the umbilical cord blood of 10 Americans -- chemicals like BPA, lead, mercury, fire retardants, perchlorate and PCBs -- are increasingly linked to serious long-term health effects, from childhood cancer and autism to ADHD, learning deficits, infertility and heart disease.
It's time for a policy that is prevention oriented instead of reactionary. We are so close to our goal of 100,000 petition signatures. Will you help put us over the edge so we can show the House there is strong public support for this reform?
Click here to sign our petition urging Congress to support toxic chemical reform.
Thank you for speaking up for a new national chemical policy that places human health front and center -- right where it should be.
Sincerely,

Ken Cook
President, EWG Action Fund

Anyway if you are interested in signing the petition, click here.

Cheers!

The Diving Loon

Toxic Chemicals in Beauty and Household Products

The Huffington Post has a great article up about some of the crazy things in everyday products. The article goes through examples such as lead in lipstick, as well as BPA and Phthalates in cosmetics, frangrances, and packaging.

Now I mentioned phthalates in my first post about chemicals in cosmetics, but the lead in lipstick surprised me. The link they provide to the "I am not a Guinea Pig" website is easy to use and informative. For instance, over 62,000 chemicals were grandfathered in with the Toxic Substances Control Act and have never been tested for safety.

Unsafe Chemicals in Your Home... and in You - I am Not a Guinea Pig - Environmental Defense Fund