Skin Cleanse and the American Beauty Industry

Now let me begin this post by saying that my views on these American industries and the products they produce are (mostly) not new ones. I've just been once again reminded of the truth since reading Skin Cleanse by Adina Grigore, and I'm making the decision to do something about it. If the information in this post interests you, I would strongly encourage you to check out her book! (Literally, if you find it at the library like I did :)

About a year ago, I worked at a hair salon downtown as a receptionist. This woman didn't carry brands that you would see in most beauty shops such as Redken, Big Sexy Hair, Paul Mitchell, etc. She was really big on a brand called ColourProof, but also sold a few other ones I hadn't ever really heard of. I didn't really question it because I was mostly there to pick up the phone and clean. I later found out that the reason for her choice in products was the ingredients in them. I had never really thought of it.

It was during those months working there that I had first ever heard the word paraben. Maybe you have, but don't know what it is or why it can be harmful to you.

Let me just take a second to chime in that the beauty industry is technically under supervision of the FDA, but it is basically almost entirely unregulated. Do some reasearch, or read more about it in Skin Cleanse. I find that a little unsettling.

Parabens are chemicals that many brands in the beauty industry put in their products to kill bacteria and prevent it from growing. Sounds like a good thing. If you look at the ingredient list for your deodorant, makeup, or skincare products, you may find the words methylparaben, propylparaben, or butylparaben. If you don't, I'm sure the word "fragarance" is found. Really specific, right?

When you apply that deodorant or facial cream, the product and all of the chemical ingredients that it is made of don't just sit on your skin. They are absorbed into your pores and then into your blood stream and into your body.

The reason they are harmful is because they are one suspected cause of Breast Cancer. Parabens have been found in cancerous tumors on the breast, and researchers believe there is a link. I just recently learned from this Good Human Article that a reason parabens are dangerous in our bodies is because they are xenoestrogens, and therefore mimic the real thing, oestrogen, in the body. They're artificial and unnatural.

Most beauty products, especially those of the most popular brands, are filling their products with these and other things, such as: formaldehyde (a classified carcinogen), polyethylene/PE/phthalates (plastic), petroleum (think petroleum jelly, but it is linked to kidney and liver abnormality and damaged cell membranes), asbestos (another carcinogen), and lead/lead acetate (do a little research on the lead paints Queen Elizabeth used and how it leads to infertility, seizures, and can be fatal if consumed topically over time). I learned about these other commonly used ingredients in Skin Cleanse accredit the information to the author. The scary thing is that you may not even notice any immediate side effects, but absorbing these ingredients into your blood system every single day (think about how many products you use, including soaps, lotions, makeup, etc.) over a long extended period of time could have some harmful effects.

If you're new to the concept of avoiding these and other harmful chemicals, you may think that it's going to be extremely difficult and expensive, but it's really not! Target sells some organic/natural brands that are safe to use and at reasonable costs, including:

1. S-W Basics, created by the author of Skin Cleanse and has 5 Ingredients or less!
2. Carol's Daughter, a brand which I was just browsing last night at Target. I'm pretty sure the next time I need shampoo or conditioner, I'm going to try this brand.
3. EDEN Body Works
4. SheaMoisture
5. Tom's of Maine, this is a link to their ladies' deodorant, which I now use.
5. And more natural haircare, the page on the Target website for all paraben and other harmful-chemical free products

It doesn't get any more easily-accessible than Target! Rule of thumb is that if it doesn't state on label that it is paraben-free, it probably isn't. Be sure, however, to still read the ingredient list carefully and know what you are putting in your body.

If you're like me, you probably have a ton of products in your home that you use that have parabens, and to go buy new face wash, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, and all other hair and skincare products would be crazy expensive. Just start with one thing at a time, or try making your own! Search on Pinterest for "DIY toner" or whatever other product you need and you'll be surprised to see how easy it can be. You probably already have most of the ingredients you need in your kitchen!

It all begins with being informed, but the choice is yours!

A Christian Style/Beauty Blog? Is That Even Possible?

Now, I'm going to begin this post by reminding you that this is a self-proclaimed style/beauty/Christian blog. Does that seem a little oxymoronic to you? Sometimes to me it has. If you're a Christian who struggles with the idea of having a blog that also features topics like beauty, fashion, or other things that have gained the reputation for being "vain", keep reading.

I'm a total girl. I absolutely love updating my wardrobe, learning a new way to style an article of clothing, and trying a new lip color, and I love blogs that feature posts on these topics. Here on Lace, Pearls, and Grace you will see me blog about things like this from time to time. These labels can make up one difficult combination to balance.

The reason is because blogs are a form of media, and similar to magazines like Seventeen, fashion ads, and television, they can sometimes portray that beauty is wearing the right clothes, having the ideal body washed in the perfect tan, and really just possessing things.

Our culture portrays a really messed up definition of beauty because the truth is that it's version is completely unattainable. We can't be perfect, no matter how hard we try. We are inherintly flawed due to our sin, and no amount of clothes, shoes, time in the tanning bed, or beauty products can change that. It's also important to remember that the girls in magazine ads and blog posts aren't perfect either. Their lives may appear to be perfect, but they're not. They're flawed and imperfect, too, and the truth is that they're all just searching for the same thing. We all have an emptiness inside of us that can only be filled with God.

That's what makes blogging about these topics together difficult. But can it be done? I believe so.

I believe that the key to maintaining a style/beauty blog as a Christian is to remember where you find true fulfillment, satisfaction, and joy. No, it's not in that new pair of shoes or the perfectly attained cat eye. It's in Jesus Christ. If ever I try to find these things that He alone offers in anything else, I will be left feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. But is having a love for style or beauty necessarily wrong? No, as long as you keep everything in proper perspective. God must come first, and everything else follows.

Maybe you're also a Christian blogger who happens to have a passion for these things. Or maybe yours is travel, cooking, or something else! I encourage you to keep blogging about what you love, but remember that at the end of the day, Christ is all that matters and He is the only place you will find true fulfillment.



I love reading your comments! What is your perspective on blogging? How do you keep Christ first while also blogging about the things you love?

Revlon's Love That Pink

Last week, Ulta had Revlon, Almay, Maybelline,  and Physician's Formula products on sale 40% off! That was when I snagged this lipstick in the shade Love That Pink. It was less than four dollars! My cheapskate self was very happy.

Exhibit A:

It's a beautiful shade of pink with the perfect amount of pop! To me, it's the type of bright lipstick that looks relatively natural. I mean, as natural as a bright lipstick can look. Who's lips are really that bright? 

I actually used to be scared of lipstick in general. I was afraid of looking "too dressed up" or like I was trying too hard. What I had to do was start with rose-y shades, which oftentimes have words like "rose" or "peony" in the title. Now I love lipsticks, especially bright ones in fuchsias, hot pinks, and reds!

How about you? :)

New Makeup Bag! (Plus a few new products!)

While in TJ Maxx the other day, I found this adorable little makeup bag. For only 7.99, I might add.

I've been needing a new makeup bag for awhile now. The last one I had was a Clinique bag, so it was kind of cute, but not really "me". Not to mention I got it at the Goodwill in almost perfect condition for I think 99 cents? Not a bad deal, but it was time for a new one!

Pink, navy, and white. I don't think this bag could be any more me! I also love that this one has two compartments so I can put my face makeup like foundation, powder, concealer, etc. in one and things like eyeliner, mascara, and my eyelash curler in the other.

Also, since then I've made a little trip to Ulta and picked up some new stuff! I really went to pick up my birthday gift, this Ulta brand eyeshadow palette. I have to admit that I was a tad bummed because last year I got a Calvin Klein full-size mascara and next month they're giving away an Urban Decay product. Sigh. Well, I guess you can't really complain when you get something free!

Here's the eyeshadow palette. Maybe I'll write a post separately about it, maybe a review or some pictures using it. Of course I'll have to try them out first so we'll see how it goes!

Last but not least, here's my little stash of products I picked up at Ulta!

1. Cetaphil Daily Cleanser : My sister raves about this face wash. I've been breaking out for awhile now and can't seem to clear things up! Hopefully this will do the trick!

2. Tweezerman Eyelash Curler : I absolutely love love love my Tweezerman tweezers. Wouldn't trade them for anything! They work better to grab the individual eyebrow hairs which means less pain. I'm hoping this eyelash curler is just as great quality!

3. Revlon Nail Enamel in Fuchsia Fever : So all Revlon products (as well as Almay and Physician's Formula brands) are 40 percent off! Which means I snagged this nail polish for 2.99. I don't actually own a nail polish in a hot pink color like this, and I thought it would be perfect for summer. Can't wait to give it a try!

4. Utla Eyeshadow palette : Birthday special, not available online. Wrote a little about it above!

5. Revlon Lipgloss in Pink Pop : I must have really been feeling the hot pink! I got it because I wanted something really bright, but when I put it on it actually looked decently natural. Despite that fact, I really love it! It's moisturizing while still adding a great amount of color.

There's a little picture I snapped really fast in the bathroom. Ignore the hair frizz, please.

I love that it adds a pop of color to my black and white outfit!

What makeup colors are you drawn to now that the weather's warming up? :)

My Current Favorite Beauty Products (Mostly Drugstore Brands!)

I wrote a post similar to this one here, but it's been awhile and this one is going to be a little different!

These are my favorite products of various categories (for the time being!) I recently moved to Greenville, NC where an Ulta is now only about 5 minutes away. Hallelujah chorus. 

Most of these are drugstore brands, so you can have a good everyday makeup routine without breaking your budget. Because that's how I roll.

Well, here we go!

Favorite:

1. Foundation - Still using Revlon's Nearly Naked Liquid Foundation. If you're looking for a light summertime foundation, I'd recommend this one. It's easy to layer if you want a little more coverage, but it doesn't take much to give you a simple even complexion that looks natural! It's not heavy like other foundations I've tried. I'm thinking about trying something with a little more coverage though, like this one or this one, so keep posted :)

2. Under Eye Concealer - I absolutely love L'Oreal's Visible Lift CC Concealer! It rolls on, which is perfect for the very sensitive under eye area. I've had it for months now, so it hasn't run out as quickly as other drugstore brands I've tried. For the price, I love it!

3. Finishing Powder - I have been using BareMinerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder with SPF 25. I always just brush a little of this over my face after I've done my makeup every morning, but it's also good by itself if you don't feel like doing a complete makeup routine. It has SPF in it, too, which is a plus for this pale face of mine. I don't think I'll ever use another finishing powder!

4. Concealer - For any acne scars, pimples, or other spots I want to camouflage,  I use Nyx Cosmetics Concealer. It's decently inexpensive, and it does the job! (It says dark circle concealer, but it's quite thick, so I don't think I'd use it for the under eye area. Just sayin'.)

5. Eyeliner - I've switched things up and have been using Revlon's ColorStay Eyeliner in Black (probably because Revlon products were buy one get one 50% off at Ulta). I love it! It's easy to make your line as bold or simple as you'd like, and it comes with an eraser at the end so you can even things out if need be. It smudges sometimes, especially if you sweat, so I'd recommend using an eyelid primer as well to make sure it stays in its place.

6. Mascara - For a few months now I've been using L'Oreal's Voluminous Butterfly Mascara, but I decided to switch things up a bit and pick up Maybelline's Lash Sensational. My opinion? I love it! It adds more length than L'Oreal's did, and with an extra coat, just as much volume. I usually have to work hard to get my lashes the way I want everyday, but this makes it easy!

7. Lipstick - I recently picked up Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipcolor in Pink Peony and love it! It's a perfect natural pink. Adds a little color without shouting to the world you are wearing lipstick being too bold.

There you have it, my current makeup favorites! What products are you using these days?

An Affordable Makeup Routine

I don't consider myself a pro or anything, but I just really enjoy the makeup application process! Thanks to a few beauty blogs I follow, I've really come a long way. (My two favorites are Kate at The Small Things and Essie Button...if you know of any more good ones please leave a comment below!)

For my daytime makeup, I typically keep it as natural as possible. I believe that makeup should not be used to amplify natural beauty, not to make someone look like an entirely different person. But I could do an entirely different post about that :) So let's stick to my general daily makeup routine.

1. Revlon's Nearly Naked Foundation : Foundation is definitely one of, if not the most important factors to your makeup routine. This is worth investing a little money into! If you just can't afford to pay 40 dollars on makeup product no matter how wonderful they may be, I totally understand. I'm right there with you. I have tried a few other drugstore foundations and BB creams, but this one has been my very favorite. It has a lightweight coverage that looks naturally beautiful! I get the color Ivory because I'm pale folks fo real.

2. Revlon's Powder Blush : Blush is essential to add some color back to my face in the right places after I apply my foundation. If you're new to blush and maybe a little afraid of it, I would start with the color Naughty Nude, or something similar to this pale pink, almost brown-ish color. The key to applying blush correctly is to smile, start applying at the cheekbone, and then come up to form an L-shape up to your forehead. I then blend it in really well by kind of randomly swiping back and forth. (If this makes no sense to you, there are plenty of visual examples on Pinterest, or try Kate's blog!)

3. L'Oreal Eye Liner : I'm not sure that the brand matters as much to me, but I definitely always go for a kohl eyeliner (I usually call it the marker kind...ha!) In my experience, it is a good combination of being easy to apply, decently forgiving, and a good amount of color. I like to get eyeliner in gray if I can find it because it's not as harsh as black on my skin tone, but black is perfect for dramatic smokey or cat eyes! The color you choose is completely up to preference/what works best with your hair and complexion.

4. L'Oreal Colour Riche Lip Balms : I love colored lip balms! They are perfect for daytime because they add just a hint of color while also moisturizing! I own this is Caring Coral, but it's really not as orange as I expected. Perfect! I also really like Revlon's ColorBurst Lipgloss.

5. Maybelline's Eyeshadow in Mocha Motion : For most days, I just swipe the brown color in the upper right-hand corner all over my lid and then apply the off-white color to my inner and outer eye corners as well as under my eyebrows. If I want a little bit of a smokey eye effect, I'll apply the gray color to my crease. Perfect combination! There's even a black included if you want to transition your look from day to night.

6. E.L.F. Eyeshadow Primer : And I wouldn't dream of using shadow without first applying this primer! Best thing is that it's only a dollar! I also use the E.LF. makeup brushes, which are also 1-3 dollars. Amazing!

7. L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara : I've tried a few different ones, but I'll always come back to this one! Perfect balance of length and volume, and I sure do need both!


So there you have it, my basic daily makeup routine which takes me around 10 minutes to do. The great part is that every single one of these products are under 10 dollars! What drugstore makeup products do you use on a daily basis?

Makeup Must-Have

Okay, so I had heard a lot of hype about BB creams recently and thought about giving it a try.

Yesterday  when I was at Wal-Mart, I saw that Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream was on sale for a little over $6 (usually just over 7) so I thought I would give it a try. Here's the link to find it online.

And...I loved it!

It works as a primer/foundation, moisterizer, and facial sunscreen. It has an spf of 30. (With my pale complexion these sunny days, that sounded like just what I needed!)

I am now in love with this product. It is definitely one that I will have to keep on my makeup routine.  In fact, I won't need to use foundation. It just takes a couple of tiny dots, so I know that I will certainly get my money's worth out of it. I then cover with a layer of powder and...done! :) Just add a bit of mascara and eyeliner and you're good to go.

And let me tell you, I'm not one of those girls who buys a ton of makeup products. In fact, when it comes to makeup, I keep it simple and cheap. When you consider what great use you will get out of it though, 6 dollars isn't bad at all!

There are other brands who also sell BB creams of course. Maybe I'll venture out and try another brand when this one runs out, who knows! BB creams in general offer so many perks that they're a must-have for every girl's makeup bag.