Pour into high speed blender (I use my Nutribullet because of the small amount) with Sea Moss Powder
Blend for 2 minutes (container will be hot)
Using a mitt like the Ove Glove, transfer to a glass storage container and place in fridge on something to protect the glass shelf, for at least an hour before using
Will keep for 3 weeks
Spread over face & let sit for at least 30 minutes
Hoff Thoughts: Don’t worry, mixture will thicken as it cools.
For: Wavy or Curly Hair Girls as a Protein Treatment Yields:3 cups
Ingredients:
3 cups Water
1/4 cup Rice (any variety*)
1 Orange Peel (optional, but recommended)
Directions:
Soak Rice in Water, with Orange Peel for 30 minutes to one hour
Drain Water into a seal-able container or spray bottle & let sit overnight at room temperature
Use as a leave-in treatment 20 minutes to overnight or as a rinse after you shampoo; shake well prior to applying
Use as needed (but consistently to see results), about 1-2 times per month
Hoff Thoughts: Rice Water can be used immediately after soaking, but it more beneficial if left to ferment. The "Scent" will disappear after hair is washed or you can add an essential oil or orange peels if desired while it sits overnight. Decide how much protein you need, Brown Rice has the least amount of protein, White Rice has more protein and Wild Rice has the most protein. If hair becomes brittle, you're using too much protein.*
At first, the stone was the bomb, worked beautifully...for a few months, then things started going south and I switched back to my aluminum-laced deodorant that I had shoved to the back of the cabinet in case things didn't work out. But after using that for a few months, I would freak out over the aluminum and switch back to the stone, which worked for a few months and then slowly stopped working.
In retrospect, this was a disturbingly good thing. What it forced me to realize was that I was absorbing all the chemical crap from the aluminum deodorant and that it was taking two months to work itself out of my system - that's why the stone appeared to be working. DISTURBING!
More motivated than ever to find an effective aluminum-free deodorant I tried one natural deodorant after another, until I finally found what I was looking for.
Determined not to make the same misguided proclamation to all of you again, I used said product for over a year and I'm still in love with its effectiveness!
Despite searching the world, the answer turned out to be in my own backyard - made right here in Lakewood, Ohio - Stem Soaps has crafted the perfect aluminum-free deodorant!
While they have the cutest little shop that deserves a drop-in, don't despair non-Clevenlanders, all of their products including this coveted deodorant is available online!
I firmly believed
I was cursed with a frizzy mess for hair; hair that could only be tamed by heat
anddominance.Only to find that that’s
not my hair at all and that I’ve been abusing it all these years!I ALWAYS wrapped my hair in a towel after
washing, because that’s what all the commercials and ads said to do.Then I got grown up and I bought the fancy
smancy microfiber hair turban in fancy smancy colors and thought I was alllll
cool.
LIES!
Nothing but
lies all these years and my hair has paid the ultimate, unfair price.
Whether your
hair is curly or straight, wavy or not – a t-shirt is all it takes to prevent
frizz & damage.
Yes, you heard
me correctly, A T-SHIRT!
Here’s the problem
& the solution - “Terry cloth and microfiber loops and
grooves become aggressors to the hair cuticles roughing it up and removing to
much moisture. This causes flyaways, breaks, and dreaded frizz!The solution to the problem is to use a
t-shirt because the smooth fabric does not frizz and break the hair.”
So freaking
simple and it’s been in my wardrobe my entire life!
Yes, you could
use a straight up t-shirt, but how do you wrap it and hold it in place and what
about the sleeves and the pockets and the graphics, yadda yadda.
Save yourself
the hassle and invest $20 for your hair peace of mind and get yourself the Hair RePear T-Shirt Towel!Made from the finest premium quality 100%
Cotton Interlock Fabric available right here in the USA!The Hair RePear ultimate t-shirt hair towel
is designed to be large enough for wrapping, scrunching, and plopping/plunking (if you don’t know what this is, check out
YouTube, it will blow your mind!).
There are two
sizes - 29x45 for long hair and 19x39 for short hair.I will say I went for the larger size and it’s
a little too big – but I’d rather have too much fabric than not enough.Also, this little wonder towel comes in two colors – white & black.After reading many reviews, I opted for the
black; as the white didn’t look so great after freshly dyed hair.
You could buy
directly from Hair RePear, but you
know me, Amazon
is where all the cool peeps shop!
Pour all ingredients into a small plastic container
Shake to combine
Scoop out some treatment and apply to hair scalp to ends
Let sit for at least 20 minutes
Wash out
Hoff Thoughts: I like to use this hair treatment once a week. I apply it in the morning, put my hair up in a top knot and go about my day - mind you on a day that I'm not leaving the house. The Tea Tree Oil makes this a nice treatment for those with dandruff. If that's not a concern for you (lucky duck), leave out or replace with your fav essential oil.
I’ve been applying it daily and I can’t say I’ve seen dramatic results, but my teeth have definitely lightened or rather my stains have decreased. I wasn’t expecting dramatic results (although that would have been awesome) because frankly this whitening pen doesn’t have all the chemical crap that traditional teeth whiteners have. That being said, I’m also not experiencing any of the sensitivity that is common with traditional whiteners, so I say that’s a win!
That lack of sensitivity is probably due to the fact that this pen is bleach-free and doesn’t contain parabens, mineral oil, phthalates or sodium lauryl sulfates. It also doesn’t have triclosan, soy or a synthetic fragrance. Bonus, it’s gluten-free and completely vegan!
This is what it does contain: water, glycerin, PEG-400, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide, disodium EDTA, potassium nitrate, mentha pulegium and sodium saccharin. I will say that I am not happy about the sodium saccharin as I avoid all artificial sweeteners, so after this pen runs out, I won’t be buying again. I am keeping my eye on this in hopes that Tarte sees the error of their ways and reformulates - fingers crossed.
Despite that, whitening pen is super easy to use, simply:
Twist at the base of the pen to dispense whitening gel onto the brush-on applicator. You may need to twist it multiple times with the first use for gel to appear.
Smile and brush onto front of all teeth and wait 30 seconds before closing your mouth.
Allow gel to penetrate for 15 minutes before eating or drinking.
Apply up to four times a day for best results.
Run brush under warm water to remove trace gel after each use.
Honestly, I don’t apply four times daily, I only do it once, right before bed. So maybe with more use, you’d get dramatic results.
As I continue my quest to rid my beauty stash of non-vegan compliant items, I now find myself writing to various companies to learn about their ingredients.
One such company on my hit list is Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, whom I have been a faithful consumer of their long-wear cream shadow for many, many years - because once you put it on, it stays on.
After an Internet search could not conclusively determine whether this coveted personal staple was in fact vegan, I did what any consumer would do - I contacted the company.
Unfortunately, this is what transpired...
The Hoff:
Can you tell me if your long-wear cream shadows contain any animal derived ingredients?
Bobbi Brown:
Dear Ms. Hoff,
Thank you for your interest in Bobbi Brown.
In reference to your
inquiry, we have enclosed the ingredient listing as displayed on the
packaging for your review. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly
at 1-888-303-7615 should you require additional information.
Please
be aware that ingredient lists may change or vary from time to time.
Please refer to the ingredient list on the product package you receive
for the most up to date list of ingredients.I
appreciate the opportunity to respond to your question, and sincerely
hope I was able to be of assistance. You are valued as our consumer and
we hope you will continue to use and enjoy our products with confidence
and satisfaction. Sincerely,
Neha M Consumer Response RepresentativeCase ID: 9095966
Anybody know what the hell those ingredients are? What I do know is that Carmine, isn't vegan - it's made by boiling insect bodies in ammonia or a sodium carbonate solution (1). Real compassionate.
After reading this chemical breakdown, there's no way in hell I would put that stuff on my skin - so for this lame ass response, I am thankful. But, that's beside the point - the point of this post is that I asked a very simple, straightforward question and received a very unhelpful, non-answer.
I don't have a clue what those ingredient names mean and I suspect neither does Neha. Let this be a wake-up call and opportunity to companies. There is a growing need for vegan cosmetics and we as consumers want to know what we're putting on our skin, just as much as what we are putting in our bodies. So skirting around the issue, won't land you any new customers or keep the ones you had - we want straight information!
Bottom line, I guess Bobbi Brown Cosmetics is not vegan - I make this assumption based on my inability to get a straight answer from the company itself. Probably why my Internet search proved futile. And not a slam against Bobbi Brown, because at least they answered my inquiry. Many companies didn't even bother replying - more $$$ lost guys...
So, I'm done trying. I'm voting with my dollar and supporting true vegan companies from here on out!
Since going vegan in the food category, I have also been overhauling my make-up to be vegan as well. I achieved this primarily with the help of 100% Pure, which uses 100% food grade quality ingredients, which are both vegan and organic (except for one bar soap that contains goat milk - WTH Pure?).
The last great hold out was my coveted longwearing lipstick. I had been addicted to Revlon's ColorStay and Cover Girl's Outlast collections for years! They really do last all day, through meal after meal and sometimes through to the next morning (can be a little hard to remove). Needless to say, I was having a hard time finding a suitable vegan replacement. Until now...
"Lime Crime products are PETA verified vegan and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty free. Our products do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. As part of the Leaping Bunny pledge, our suppliers also certify that no animal testing is ever performed at any point in our supply chain."
The colors are super rich & super saturated! These luscious liquid lipsticks dry to a matte finish, which can feel a little drying, but I found applying a gloss or lip balm over/under lessened the longwearing affects, so I just got used to it.
There are a tone of non-traditional, fun colors (black, green, gold, grey etc.), but I kept it tame with their Cashmere a grey beige and Teddy Bear a lilac brown. Still, these colors standout and make your lips get noticed (in a good way).
Once you open the bottle, you instantly know that these are not your typical lipstick - the aroma of vanilla cookies hits you immediately and you can't help but giggle.
Now do they work - YES THEY DO!
You do need to avoid oily foods (no problem for this WFPBOF chick) and it's better to blot your lips rather than wipe after a meal, but other than that - expect your lip color to stay put with minimal, if any touch-ups (I think it depends on what you put your lips through...). Check your teeth after applying, but beyond that, you won't get any transfer.
I make sure to apply a lip balm before going to bed, so that my lips are ready to go in the morning. If my lips are dry and flaking, I use a warm, wet wash cloth to smooth them out. At the end of the day, I use coconut oil to remove. I little bit of maintenance, but I say it's worth it!
I love a good facial - so much that I see my aestheticianat least four times a year - once a season. But, for the times in between I apply a facial mask once a week at home.
There is quite the cult following for this little known wonder treatment and after reading several enthusiastic testimonials, I had to give this stuff a go!
Here's what I thought:
First off, you can't beat the price! I was able to pick up a 1lb. container for $10 on Amazon. The jar indicates that you can get 10-15 facials per container. Sooooooooooooooo much cheaper than any organic, vegan facial mask that I have bought in the past.
Which brings me to the second thing I love about this clay - it's just clay. Seriously, one ingredient: 100% natural calcium bentonite clay. Which means, no additives, no fragrances and no animal products. Bonus (and non-negotiable) it's not tested on animals! :) The third thing I love is that while this clay is pulling gunk and impurities from your pores and skin, it's infusing the skin with over 50 naturally occurring minerals. I'm a sucker for a multitasker. Fourth, I love that you can actually feel this stuff working. Aside from the drying, the clay causes your skin to pulsate. Now for me, this didn't happen the first time and I was pretty disheartened. But, others reported the same thing and just like them, the second time I applied this mask I experienced the weird/cool pulsating sensation.
Fifth, the clay helps with pimples, black heads and skin tightening. It also helps with bug bites. Some have reported a lightening of sunspots.
Sixth, Cleopatra used clay from the Nile River as part of our beauty ritual - I adore her! Yes, I do picture Cleo as Miss Taylor - blame Hollywood.
Seventh, the clay comes from Death Valley, California - that just sounds badass.
I did experience mild redness and some skin sensitivity after removing the mask. But, just as the jar stated, this resolved within 30 minutes. So basically, don't apply this mask and then take off for a hot date afterwards - plan accordingly.
I know you're dying to try this stuff out, so here's some info to know:
The clay is in powder form, so you need to mix it with equal parts water or apple cider vinegar to create a paste
I found that 1 tbsp. of clay to 1 tbsp. of liquid was more than sufficient for one face
When mixing you need to use a non-metal bowl, measuring spoon and spoon - this clay does not like metal!
Add a few drops of Tea Tree Oil to amp up the acne relief factor (100% optional)
You can apply the mask using your fingers, but I prefer to use an old make-up brush to get a nice even layer
You want to layer the mask so that you can no longer see your skin poking through
Avoid the under eye area - when this stuff starts to dry you don't want to pull on that delicate skin
Let the mask dry for 5 minutes if you have sensitive skin or 10-45 minutes for normal skin
Try not to move your face while the mask dries
DO NOT WASH DOWN THE DRAIN - the cult said this stuff is clogging drains all over town - I ended up removing with wet paper towels; a little time consuming, but better than calling the plumber
This is a very drying mask, be sure to follow-up with a good moisturizer, I like Dr. Bronner's Coconut Oil
If you are prone to acne, you will likely breakout with the first couple uses, this will pass and yield gorgeous skin thereafter
A wet brush is this magical new invention in which an ordinary looking brush is able to effortlessly glide through wet hair..
No yanking
No pulling
No expletives
Witchcraft you say!
No craft here, but it is magical. The super soft and flexible bristles (some patented, technical tech stuff) allow the brush to effortlessly glide through straight out of the shower or towel dried hair, allowing you to evenly distribute hair products or simply get that tangled mess under control. To be fair the first glide is not completely effortless, there is some resistance to tangles, but after that, its smooth sailing...
I'm so in love with this brush that I even replaced my regular brush and use it on dry hair (like convertible, wind tunnel, whipped hair). I love it so much, I don't even want to leave town without it, so I just picked up the pop and fold version for travel. (Snatch this one from the Wet Brush site for free shipping, because Amazon is charging a ridiculous amount!)
Got kids? You need this brush!
Got hair? You NEED this brush!
Where to get...
I picked mine up at my favorite place in the world - Amazon for a mere 9 bucks (ahem, free shipping for the regular brush).
Are you ready for healthier hair with no tangles, no split ends, less breakage and no swearing?
I've been a fan of Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Pure-Castile Soaps for a few years. I love that they are vegan, not tested on animals, non-gmo certified, fair trade and organic. The minimal ingredients are a big win as well - especially when that includes some essential oils!
The company itself is very into social activism and philanthropic work - do-gooders :) They refer to themselves as the "Fighting Soap Company" - I like that.
Major causes they have focused on include:
Organic integrity in personal care
Promotion of authentic Fair Trade
Re-commercialization of industrial hemp in the U.S.
I am currently using the Almond version (smells yummy) for hand soap, as it's so hard to find non-antibacterial soap these days. I also love it as a body wash and it suds up nicely to use in place of shaving cream. Love this little multitasker!
I overheard someone saying that they use diaper rash cream as an overnight acne treatment and I thought they were joking. That was until I hit the Internet to do a little recon...
Turns out a lot of people are onto this little beauty secret.
Because it's a blend of naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal organic herbs, Shea
butter and pure essential oils it goes on the skin clear, so no walking around with white blotches like you get from traditional acne creams. As it liquefies with your body heat, it glides on effortlessly and I just put it all over my face in a thin layer. Bonus, this product also works on bug bites,
scrapes, chicken pox, minor rashes, and burns.
So my results...
It works! I can't believe it, I can't explain it, but I wake up in the morning with clear skin! So, I'm sold. Ironically, the Internet claims to credit the zinc oxide commonly found in most
diaper rash creams to the clear skin and I accidentally picked up cream that doesn't
contain zinc. Yet, still got the results I was after. Maybe zinc is the answer, but there's something else in this natural product that works just as well. I don't know what to tell you other than, grab a small bottle and try for yourself, you never know what's going to work.
Seeing as skin, our largest organ absorbs up to 60% of what we put on it - right into the blood stream, an organic, edible, vegan beauty line is a godsend! As if it couldn't get any better, this new line of Juice Beauty products is the brainchild of Gwyneth Paltrow! Gotta love that girl!
The Phyto-pigments Makeup Collection (need to work on that name) consists of 11 affordable products for complexion, lips, eyes,
and cheeks made from plant-derived phyto-pigments that utilize
ingredients such as cold-pressed oils, organic juices, and fruit
extracts. The products are free of gluten, silicone, talc, acrylates, parabens,
glycols, PEGs, artificial dyes, and synthetic fibers. The Juice Brand also
carries vegan makeup brushes!
If you know me, you know that I don't eat oil - I don't cook with it and I avoid products containing it. So, it may surprise you to learn that I keep a variety of oils in the house...for beauty reasons.
Oils can be very beneficial outside of the body. Now bear in mind, our skin can absorb up to 60% of what we put on it. With that in mind, make sure your oils are 100% organic, unrefined and cold-pressed.
Allow me to impart a tip from the modeling world (no, I've never been a
model) - after washing your face, rinse 30 times to ensure the cleansing product is fully removed. You can actually feel the texture of your face change as whatever product you used, comes off. This trick is
particularly important when using any type of oil as a cleanser.
I'm a firm believer of getting a minimum of 15 minutes of sun exposure daily or at least 3 times per week to as much skin as legally possible to get one's Vitamin D supplies stocked up. Since Vitamin D is a hormone that the body produces when the skin is exposed to sun, the sun is by far your ideal source - not supplements. And remember, Vitamin D is fat soluble, so stocking up on it throughout the spring, summer & fall will get you through the winter when getting your sun on isn't so pleasurable or feasible...at least in Ohio.
"Vitamin D supplements are not a substitute for sun exposure, and vitamin
D supplements can cause serious side effects with little proven value
for most people. Adequate sun exposure in the spring/summer/fall
insures adequate stored vitamin D for winter months. Optimally healthy
people are able to efficiently convert the storage form of vitamin D to
its active form." - Dr. Pam Popper
That being said, sunscreen has its place in a healthy regime.
When I'm playing in the sun for any prolonged period of time, my go-to body sunscreen is Kiss My Face SPF #50 Sunscreen Cool Sport Continuous Spray. I like that it has an adequate SPF*(anything beyond 30 is not really doing anymore for you), applies in a continuous spray that dries quickly and has a non-chemical scent (tropical coconut). It's also water resistant for up to 40 minutes.
Verdict: It works, it's convenient! I always keep in on hand and never travel without it.
That being said, I have been ignoring my daily protection. The times when you're in and out throughout the day, so what's the point? Well, two sun spots on my face later and I get the point! I want to have great looking skin well into my twilight years, so I set out to find the perfect SPF protection for my face even beyond the summer months. Here's what crossed my path...
I started with my go-to brand 100% Pure and tried their Green Tea Oil-free Hydration. This product features a SPF of 30 and claims to "protect your skin from
the sun's harmful UVA (ultra violet aging) and UVB (ultra violet
burning) rays, skin cancer, fine lines, wrinkles, sun and age spots." It's "organic green tea soothes and calms while purifying herbs keep
complexion fresh."
Verdict: I like it. It goes on light, rubs in easily and doesn't leave a white film, but for everyday wear, it didn't seem quite right. Not really something you want to conduct a meeting in if you know what I mean.
I thought that my next try should be some type of tinted moisturizer with SPF added.
At first, I was perplexed about the bottle or the tip rather, then I checked out the company's product information video and everything became clear. Now I think the applicator tip is a pretty cool feature.
Verdict: This is the winner! For now... :) Despite its awful chemical smell (which goes away quickly), it blends in well, has a barely there feeling and fingers crossed is doing all that other stuff listed above. I went with Dessert Glow, which not only didn't mask my tan, but also enhanced it!
So get your sun on, but don't forget to protect yourself for the long haul.
Keep it healthy!
*"...According to Spencer, an SPF 15 product blocks about 94% of UVB
rays;
an SPF 30 product blocks 97% of UVB rays; and an SPF 45 product blocks
about 98% of rays. "After that, it just gets silly," he says.
Sunscreens with higher SPF ratings block slightly more UVB rays, but
none offers 100% protection." - Dermatologist James M. Spencer, MD
