Farewell Final Post

Thank you all for participating in reading this blog. Near and far your presence was noted. I hope some of my posts made an influence in your beauty collection and life.

Thank you!!!
Jill

DIY Stain Removal ***REPOST

If you're like me, you do more stain treatments on your laundry than the average person, buy industrial sized packs of Tide To Go stain remover pens, not to mention having one in your car, backpack, purse and just about every room in your house. The hard truth, unfortunately, is that Tide pens don't work on carpet stains....Not that I have tried that or anything.....(I have).       Average carpet shampooing prices range $51 per room (data from Angie's List), and your conscience hates those numbers- especially if it's for the removal of a single stain. Not only pricey, most shampoos use harsh chemicals like Perchloroethylene and Naphthalene, both heavy-duty dry cleaning chemicals. These chemicals can pose potential hazards to babies, adults, pets and are usually discarded into the environment. 

Here is an easy way to get those pesky carpet stains gone for good!

What You Will Need: A sock (I have a designated Stain Sock), and hairspray! Pantene always does me right.

Step One: Spray hairspray onto carpet stain until it is white and has a foamy look to it

Step Two: Allow hairspray to become a clear color. It usually takes 3-6 seconds.

Step Three: Take your stain sock and scrub away. It works best if you go  in the opposite direction of the shape of the stain. If it's horizontal, scrub vertically; vertical, scrub horizontally. 

Step Four: Use the money you saved and treat yourself!

WHY it WORKS: The combination of Aerosol and Alcohol is the Batman to the Stain Joker. I have gotten Sharpie, long-wear foundation, kohl eyeliner and now waterproof mascara out of my carpet using the Pantene hairspray. Alcohol dries out hair, so I recommend trying to find a hairspray that has no alcohol in it for your hair and have a mini can of Pantene for your stain removal needs. Notice how I have the largest can humanly possible for my stain removal. 

Happy Sunday!

-Jillian

Photos made with Photofy and PicStitch.

Nail Polish Revolution ***REPOST

(Image found here)

You see them everywhere, O.P.I, Essie, China Glaze and hundreds more. We're talking nail polish. One of civilizations first beauty products. Dating back to 3000 B.C. early nail polish ingredients consisted of beeswax, egg whites, gelatin, and vegetable dyes (Found here). The industry is growing and more people want manicures and polishes that last. In 2012 alone the nail industry raked in $7.47 billion (Nails Magazine). Women and men across the globe spend upwards from $12 to $50 per manicure (Angie's List), and pay a very hefty risk as well.


You know the smell and could pick it out of the atmosphere in Grand Central Station. 
The problem is what is behind the smell.

Many nail polish brands contain a toxic mix of chemicals that not only risk reproductive and endocrine health, but can cause damage to the central nervous system. These chemicals include, but are not limited to:

• Toulene: A chemical found in gasoline with known links to reproductive health damage and central nervous system damage.
• Fromaldehyde: One of the most infamous carcinogens, leading to respiratory and cardiac problems.
• Dibutyl phthalate: Banned in Europe, it is linked to damage to the endocrine system. 

(Research conducted at Duke University).

But are there organic alternatives?
 I'm here to tell you. YES. You can still have glamorous nails and at no cost to your reproductive or nervous system health. 

My top three natural nail polishes are;

• Scotch Naturals (my personal favorite, this is an amazing product.)
• Acquarella (they make non-toxic remover too!)
• Honeybee Gardens (comes off with either rubbing alcohol or the all natural remover.)

I directly linked to the company website, however, most are also available on Amazon too.

It's safe to say that limiting exposure to harsh chemicals like carcinogens is the best bet.
Most nail salons are more than happy to manicure your nails and paint them with polish that you bring from home. I have done it plenty of times! 

-Jillian

Animal Testing ***REPOST

Animal testing. We have all seen the traumatic pictures of bunnies, mice and rats being used for cosmetic companies to test their products for human use. As consumers of thing like cosmetics, soap, shampoo and lotion it is only right for you to know how your products get from a lab to your bathroom vanity. 

• Over 1 million animals are used as test subjects annually. Typically r-strategist species, meaning that they reproduce at rapid rates and have high growth rates, with low life expectancy to reach adulthood.
• Some tests include: skin and eye irritation tests where chemicals are rubbed on shaved skin or dripped into the eyes without any pain alleviation.
• The American FDA does not  require animal testing. When companies use new chemicals to better their product they have to ensure that it is safe for human use. Human subjects could potentially lead to lawsuits and loss income.  
• International companies may have to test on animals to sell in countries that require it, such as China.
•  92% of experimental drugs that are safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials.

The problem is the triviality of animal testing use in the cosmetic industry. They test new formulas that have high risk chemicals just to make the mascara smudge proof, or the shampoo more hydrating. My question is when there is a long list of chemicals that are historically proven to be safe for human use, why are we choosing new and potentially harmful chemicals? Why are we using chemicals with such potential risk that we have to test it in the first place? 

If you buy something titled "Argan Oil" shouldn't the only ingredient be Argan oil? Not Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclomethicone ( volatile silicone solvents), Dimethiconece and butylphenyl methylpropional. See this article to learn more about these chemicals.

Luckily, if you are against animal testing there are many drugstore and high end companies that are cruelty free!

Choose with your conscience. If you believe that animals deserve the same respect as humans, choose to go cruelty free! Take the pledge here: Cruelty Free Pledge- Global.

See if the brands you choose are cruelty free here. This is a great resource to stay informed!

Resources to help you make your decision:
Resource
Resource
Resource

-Jillian

Sources

Source A

Source B

Source C

High End Setting Product Dupes

One of the hardest things for makeup lovers is getting it to last. Many of the setting sprays and powders can range from $25 and up. I found the best dupes for these pricey products.

 

 

Prices listed are active links on where to find them!

LOOSE POWDERS

Splurge: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.. $38.00

Dupe: Coty Airspun Loose Powder in Translucent...$5.97

**This product can be messy! Be careful!

 

Dupe: NYX set it & don't fret it Mineral Setting Powder...$9.99

 

 

PRESSED POWDERS

 

Splurge: Too Faced Primed & Poreless Pressed Powder...$30.00

 

 

Dupe: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder...$3.97

 

 

SETTING SPRAYS



Splurge: Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Marine Boosting Mist (SETTING SPRAY)...$25.00

Dupe: Wet n' Wild Photo Focus Setting Spray...$4.99

Dupe: e.l.f Makeup Mist & Set...$3.00

Dupe: NYX Matte (or Dewey, whatever finish you prefer) Makeup Setting Spray...$7.99

 

 



 

 

 

 

Thoughtful Tuesday

This time last year I had taken a trip to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and among the beautiful paintings, one of the most impactful was Jenny Holzers work titled "Selections from Truisms, Inflammatory Essays, The Living Series, The Survival Series, Under a Rock, Laments, and Child Text".
In a series of one liners, Holzer captivated my friends and I to stand and view the scrolling text for 35 minutes.
This is a piece of that collection https://mfx.dasburo.com/art/truisms.html

Quote of the Week/ Thoughtful Friday