Renpure Ren Cleansing Conditioner

Although this product is new, the concept of a cleansing conditioner is not. Wen and Hair One have preceded Ren. However, in my opinion, Renpure is the first company to get it right! A bottle of Wen will cost you about $35.oo. Hair One is about half that at $15.00. Ren is approximately $10.00 (on their website) but you can find it even cheaper at Harmon’s.

What is the allure with Ren?

  • Renpure products are healthier for you and the earth.
  • Ren is easy to use – pump the product out, massage it into your scalp, let it sit and rinse (does not require multiple steps like Wen and Hair One).
  • You can use it as a leave-in conditioner or detangler in addition to using it as a shampoo/conditioner.
  • Your hair is left amazingly soft, clean and shiny.
  • Ren contains Keratin, Coconut Oil and Shea Butter.
  • Ren comes in two scents: Rosemary Mint and Sweet Pomegranate. I have both in my shower and alternate between them.

Try Ren! Let me know what you think below. My experiences with Renpure as a brand have been awesome, and I’m excited to continue using their products.

-Katie

 

Earth Day 2012: Go Green With Your Beauty Supply


It’s Earth Day! Let’s talk about going green…and your beauty, makeup, and skincare product routine! So, how many different products do you use per day? Toothpaste? Sunscreen? Deodorant? Moisturizer? Shaving Cream? Shampoo? Conditioner? Body Wash? Hand sanitizer? Foundation? Powder? Bronzer?

I challenge you to tally up the number today. Now, think about the ingredients label for each product. Can you read all of the ingredients? If not, are you comfortable with applying those chemicals to your body? Since there is very little legislation protecting consumer health, when it comes to cosmetics and beauty products, it’s up to you to choose healthier options. It’s easier than you think and even committing to make small changes to your routine will have a great impact.

Organic products are better for you and for the earth! Here is a guide for going green with your makeup:

1. Commit to buying healthier beauty products

2. Discard old makeup and beauty products (Seriously, the eyeshadow you wore to prom? Needs to go…)

3. Enjoy the products you have and once they run out, replace them with greener versions

4. Purchase new products. Some of my favorite brands are Zoya, Josie Maran, Eco Tools , Lavanilla, LUSH, SpaRitual, Tarte, and Renpure.

5. Enjoy your new products and spread the word. Consumers can shape the cosmetic industry and change the landscape of it with the demand for healthier, greener products.

Quick fixes to help you get started:

  • Pick up a healthy shampoo/conditioner, I recommend trying Renpure Organics
  • Use a greener deodorant, I recommend Lavanilla or Tom’s
  • Swap out your nailpolish for a Big 3 Free version (meaning free of Formaldehyde, Toluene or DBP), check out Zoya or SpaRitual
  • Read this article from the Cosmetic Databse, Top Tips for Safer Products.

If you still need some convincing:

  • Making small changes to your beauty routine will make a huge difference! Start out by using Big 3 Free nail polishes and avoiding products with fragrance.
  • Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA premarket approval authority, with the exception of color additives. – Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Beauty products (makeup, fragrance, etc.) will make its way inside your body -whether it is by absorption through the skin (your largest organ) or inhalation.
  • Chemicals found in beauty products have been linked to cancer, reproductive and respiratory concerns, and have been linked to other diseases.
  • Visit the Cosmetic Database, type in the name of a product you use, and evaluate it. Your product will be given a rating on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being the safest.

Happy Earth Day!

x0,

Katie

Boscia B.B. Cream

B.B. Creams piqued my interest because of their multitasking capability claims. A recent article in Real Simple that highlighted this new type of face product and decided to try Boscia B.B. Cream SPF 27 PA ++.

A B.B. Cream is a beauty balm that primes the skin for other products, but also act as a foundation, serum, sunscreen, and moisturizer. Sounds too good to be true, right?

The Boscia B.B. Cream was fun to try but I don’t think I will be repurchasing this particular product. I would however, give another B.B. Cream a try because I like the idea of this product. The Boscia B.B. Cream was supposed to create a “lustrous, flawless finish as it hydrates, firms and soothes the skin.” Honestly, I’m not sure that it accomplished any of those things. It dried too quickly, therefore it was difficult to get an even application. The color was a bit too dark for my skin and looked very unnatural. Finally, the product was difficult  to remove from my skin.

Have you tried any B.B. Creams? What was your experience with them?

How To: Make Your Eyeshadow Last

I was recently talking with a friend about eyeshadow and she mentioned that hers is usually gone in a couple of hours. This post is going to be about making your eyeshadow last all day simply by using a primer.

There are different types of shadows: powder, gel, baked (wet/dry shadows), etc. All of these shadows require a primer before applying the actually shadow. A primer gives the shadow something to cling to on your eyelid, keeps the shadow from creasing, and can also cancel out discoloration on your lid (think veins, skin discoloration – redness, darkness, etc.).

So many primer options exist! Some favorites include MAC Painterly Paint Pot, Urban Decay Primer Potion, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, and Benefit Stay Don’t Stray. I reach for MAC Painterly Paint Pot on a daily basis!

To use an eyeshadow base or primer, apply the product to your lid (a little bit goes a long way with these products). Sweep it over your whole eyelid from your upper lash line to the brow bone with your finger (you can use a brush instead but your finger works perfectly and is quicker). Follow up this procedure with your eyeshadow for a longer lasting effect. Also, since your shadow will likely be a bit more difficult to remove at the end of the day, make sure you are gentle with your eyelid and use makeup remover to get the product completely off.

I can’t imagine using an eyeshadow without a primer! :)

xo,

Katie

Kirkland Cosmetic Brushes

I really didn’t need another reason to love Costco. But I found one… Kirkland makeup brushes. 10 brushes and a cute brush roll clutch for under $20.00 is amazing! The quality of these brushes is definitely comparable to my Sigma brushes (which cost approx. $100.00!). However, since I’ve only been using them for a week and have yet to wash them I am not sure how they will hold up over time. I am anxious to find out! :]

Brushes: 4 eye brushes, a powder brush, stipling brush, concealer brush, flat top kabuki, a contoured kabuki, and a blush brush.

The brush clutch is cute too – I will probably reserve this for traveling.

I purchased mine at Costco but here is the link if you want to check them out: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11707295

x0x0,

Katie

Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish

Simply Fabulous. The Buxom lip glosses are long-wearing, and super shiny. The gloss is infused with minerals and antioxidants. As a “lip plumping” gloss, your lips feel a bit tingly and cool when you apply it. I think this feels refreshing.

The range of colors that this gloss comes in is fabulous – nudes, brights, darks & shimmers. The names of the colors are fun and reminiscent of Zoya nail polishses (which are all girls names too).

The gloss can be worn alone or layered over a lip stain, lipstick or a neutral lip pencil. My favorite shades are Katie and Dolly. Dolly is probably more versatile but Katie is perfect with a smokey eye.

I get my lip polishes at Sephora, and they are $18.00/gloss. The quality of the product is awesome and I definitely recommend checking them out. :]

x0x0,
Katie

Healthy Mini Blueberry Muffins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 3/4 cup flour

1/4 cup oil (or 1/2 cup applesauce)

1/2 cup sugar (or 1/4 cup splenda)

3/4 cup fresh blueberries

1 egg

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 cup milk

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

1. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar.

2. In another bowl, beat the egg, add milk, vanilla and oil/applesauce. Add to flour mixture. Stir until it looks lumpy.

3. Fold in blueberries.

4. Spoon into baking cups in a mini muffing pan using a tablespoon.

5. Bake in oven (for approx.10-12 minutes) until the tops are golden brown and the center is cooked through (check with a toothpick/fork.)

If you use the Splenda and applesauce as substitutes for sugar and oil, each mini muffin is approximately 35 calories.

Hope you enjoy this,

xo Katie

How to: Cancel your WoW Membership

They blocked me on facebook… oh well, so YAY! If you are reading this I assume it is because you have had made the intelligent decision to ditch Work Out World! Although the process to cancel is annoying, it will be worth it in the end because you will no longer have to deal with this terrible leech of a company.

(This is just an aside, are they seriously advertising their stupid car magnets on billboards now?! Free car magnets?? Really, is that what people WANT out of a gym? Wow…)

As for your escape plan: You have two options…

1. You can conveniently click here: http://www.workoutworld.com/pdfs/wow_membership_cancellation.pdf OR you can do it the long way… which is what I had to do…

a. Go to http://workoutworld.com/ and click the yellow button “I’m not a member yet” – I know, I know, you’re a member but this is the only way around making a myWow username and password. Afterall, you are leaving them, a login will be useless to you!

b. Click Site Map (it should be on the top right side of the screen).

c. Click Cancellation Instructions (listed underneath Other on this section of the website). Download the cancellation instructions.

2. Print the Cancellation Instructions, fill out this form, and mail it CERTIFIED MAIL (how annoying – they claim it is for your protection…sigh) to: WoW Work Out World Attn: Membership Cancellation 1800 Route 34 North Building 4, Suite 402 Wall, NJ  07719

3. Wait for them to approve your cancellation (Lol! Who is the customer here? Oh, right, your members… that you treat like rubbish, okay, got it…) Here is what the cancellation instructions read:

“Cancellation Policy The terms & conditions of your Membership Contract must  be  fulfilled  and your  account must be in good standing in order for your cancellation to be approved.  You must give WoW FuIl Notice of you  request  to  cancel, known as your Cancellation Notification Period. You are  responsible  for  paying your monthly  dues  and  any  late  feesduring your Cancellation Notification Period.You must fulfill the minimum required  Contract  Term  of  your membership in order  for your cancellation to be approved.   Any months during  your Contract  Term  that  youplaced  your  membership  on “Freeze” do not count towards  fulfilling  your required Contract Term.”

I see a little problem. I have to give Wow notice of requesting to cancel… so then I enter a cancellation notification period, during which I still have to pay them. Where does it say how long this cancellation period will last? Yup, that’s right, it doesn’t! Don’t worry… I emailed them… I should hear back about my cancellation request in 7-10 business days.

Hmm.. the next piece of the document sort of makes me nervous. It says:

“I understand that the terms & conditions of my original Membership Agreement must be fulfilled in order to  be eligible for cancellation and that this form must be reviewed & approved by a WoW Contract Administrator.  If  approved, I understand that my Cancellation Notification Period will start on the  1st of the next month from the date my request to cancel was received via Registered or Certified US Mail by WoW.”

So the cancellation period will start on the 1st of the next month, so obviously they are robbing you of more membership fees, but when will this cancellation period end? I think this document needs some amending, do you?!

Okay, I hope this helped you in your WOW cancellation endeavor. Good luck! :)

Katie

And finally, WOW… doin JERSEY WRONG!

 

Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Sheer Tint Anti-Dark-Circle Roller

This rollerball by Garnier was designed to decrease dark circles underneath your eyes. Caffeine is an ingredient in the formula that is supposed to lessen puffiness. The product is tinted and very sheer, and costs approximately $13.00. I think that it is a good option for anyone who has puffy eyes or barely noticeable dark circles. Someone with very dark circles could enjoy using this product too, however, I might recommend a traditional concealer layered on top.

I have been using this product daily. I usually apply it several minutes before applying makeup/moisturizers. I roll it on, let it sit for a minute and then gently dab it into the skin with my ring finger. I like the consistency of the product, and think that it is fun to use.

I know there are other varieties of the Garnier rollerball and although I haven’t tried them, I would definitely be interested. Let me know what you think!

xo,

Katie