Build Bath & Shower

You might have seen bottles of shampoo and conditioner labelled as sulphate- and paraben-free, but what does this actually mean when it comes to what we put on our hair?  What are sulphates?  Most of us will have shower gels, soaps, shampoos and cleaning products in our bathroom and kitchen cupboards that contain synthetic detergents. The likes of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), sodium laureth sulphate (SLES), ammonium lareth sulphate and myreth sulphate. These are synthetic, inexpensive detergents that are very effective at removing dirt and also help provide that soapy lather we’ve come to expect when we wash our hair.  In some cases, they can dry out hair, irritate sensitive skin and make eczema worse , so some brands choose to use gentler alternatives .  Typically, sulphate-free products might not lather as much as others containing synthetic foaming agents , so those with finer locks may find they need to give hair two washes.  What are parabens?  Parabens are preservatives used...

When making choices to support a healthier lifestyle, many individuals overlook the safety of their beauty and/or personal care products . But they shouldn’t: Not only is skin your largest organ, but what is applied to the skin is absorbed by the body (if you’re suspect, just think about the efficacy of transdermal birth control or nicotine patches). As a professional with 15 years of experience as a makeup artist and 10 years of experience in naturals specifically, I have developed an expertise in which products, ingredients, and methods are best. So if you’re taking the time—and spending the money—to buy healthier, organic food, it’s about time you understand what you’re putting on your skin. An introduction to clean and natural beauty. In order to understand the context, here’s some clean beauty 101 : The personal care industry (meaning things like lipstick, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, toothpaste) is completely unregulated in the United States. In layman’s terms, this means ther...

If you’ve been researching parabens , you may be wondering what the best paraben free shower gel is to return moisture to dry skin. Parabens are a class of preservatives that are used in many beauty and cosmetic products. Some suspect that parabens can interfere with your hormones. And, many people who are concerned with this try to find products that don’t contain parabens. I received product for this post. This post contains affiliate links, and I will receive compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Paraben Free Shower Gel to Moisturize Dry Skin " width="700" height="846" /> You may also like: Paraben Free Shower Gel Since parabens are so widely used in beauty and cosmetic products, it can be a challenge to find things like shower gels that don’t contain parabens or other harmful ingredients. I recently learned about a brand of beauty products that are not only paraben free but also SLS and mineral oil free . Inspired by regional ...

When I stayed at a fancy-pants hotel in Vancouver last year, I remember thinking that I loved their refillable shampoo, conditioner and body wash pumps . I hate throwing away all those tiny, half-used bottles – it seems like such a waste. We throw away SO MUCH garbage in this country, and only 5-10% of the plastic ever makes it to a recycling center. And even if it gets recycled, it usually ends up in a landfill or in our lakes and oceans at some point. Plus, when you recycle a plastic bottle only 10-20% of it can actually be successfully recycled and what is recovered is often downgraded into another form of single use plastic. According to National Geographic, if we don’t change our ways by 2050 there will be 12 BILLION metric tons of plastic in landfills and waterways. There will be more plastic than fish in the ocean! Say what? That’s a staggering amount of destruction to our planet. Above is a pic of Maui, Hawaii, from my birthday trip in April. Can we PLEASE keep our oceans look...

I am a huge night owl .  I stay up so late (mostly blogging and searching the interwebz for beauty products ) and I often need something to pull me back to reality.  Reality being the fact that I have a regular job I need to go to usually a few hours after I go to bed! *DOH*  The Lavande scent from Le Chatelard 1802 has been helping sooth my senses! Le Chatelard 1802 Lavande " width="640" style="border: 0px;" /> If you are not familiar with Le Chatelard 1802 , they are a company who hand-makes all of their products in France.  The products from this brand come in many different scents, but what is more French than Lavender?  I must say that the packaging is super user friendly and the labels are very shabby chic.   Eye pleasing addition to any bathtub or shower! Le Chatelard 1802 Lavande " width="640" style="border: 0px;" /> Le Gel Douche ( aka shower gel ) is very nice.  It builds up into a nice lather, cleanses well withou...

Morning loves!! I hope you’re having a great week so far … it’s been a LITTLE hectic for us with the move in FULL effect … I have to admit it’s feeling a little weird … but exciting at the same time! With all of the chaos happening around us I’ve found that having a shower or a hot bath at the end of the day is the one thing that really helps me to destress and calms me down … not to mention, I take FULL advantage of this brief alone time to  unwind with a glass of wine (you only live once, right?!) and considering I can’t help but to always be multi-tasking (lol!!) I also use this time to test out  Avalon Organics products ! If you missed my last review on their Intense Defense skin care line , make sure to check it out here! Anywho … back to today’s topic, today it’s all about Argan Oil!! The other day I gave Avalon Organics new Damage Control shampoo and conditioner a try! This duo is made with organic argan and avocado oils, calendula extract and quinoa protein!! Crazy right?! So...