Hair Coloring Horror: Why You Should Always Patch Test

Here is a hard lesson learned on why you should patch test a new product before smearing it on any part of your body. Also, hair chemicals are bad, mmmkay? There are natural hair coloring products out there. But, bottom line is this could happen to anyone with any product, so be careful and act immediately if you start noticing any discomfort, skin change or other reaction. I always keep Benadryl and Hydrocortisone handy, because you never know.

Also, parents this girl is 15. Parental supervision is needed when using any product like this.

Link to Story

Mascara Ads Now Coming Clean in the US About Using Falsies?

I am catching up on my November Allure magazine and I spy a pretty picture of Drew Barrymore hawking Cover Girl Mascara. As usual, her lashes are beyond 'just mascara', which has been a HUGE pet peeve of mine for years. Lo and behold, I spy a disclaimer in tiny print that says: Lash inserts used prior to application to add fullness but not length. Knock me over with a feather! I have never understood how cosmetic companies got away with using obviously fake eyelashes in their mascara ads.

I scratched my head for a moment and wondered WHY Cover Girl finally started admitting they use falsies on their models. Then I remembered a post I did a few weeks back about the FTC cracking down on companies that made unsubstantiated claims, including going after their celebrity spokesmodels. The UK has had a similar law in effect for a while and has busted Rimmel and L'oreal in the past.

The ASA (similar to our FTC) laid down the law on adding disclaimers to ads: "We told L’Oreal to include a disclaimer in future ads featuring models wearing false eyelashes, irrespective of whether those lashes were individually inserted to bring lashes to a consistent standard or whether they were a full set of false lashes. We also told them to ensure future ads made clear that the "up to 60%" claim referred to the appearance of the lashes, not to an actual extension in the length of lashes that could be achieved by using the mascara.

We also told L'Oreal to take greater care in future to provide us promptly with accurate information."

I'm going to start checking for the fineprint on ALL the cosmetic ads I run across to see if I can spot some more disclaimers. More fun than hunting for Easter Eggs!

Retraction & Apology: Zoya Lip Gloss Promotion - Updated

Update: Zoya sent me a PM on Twitter saying that my lip glosses were packaged in the old tubes and that the current formulation was safe. Those of you who have been around for a while will remember my last Zoya ingredients run in around the same time last year. I ended up talking to the vice president of the company who assured me my products were safe and promised that they would start posting their ingredients on the website. Well, that never happened. If you purchased the glosses, decide for yourself. Zoya is saying they are Paraben free. I just have an 'off' feeling about this and am tossing mine. I don't need the stress of wondering if my lip gloss is poison or not.


I can't decide on which emotion is stronger right now, but I am going to settle on disgust. A couple days ago, I put up a post about a promotion that Zoya is doing with their lip glosses. I just received mine today and excitedly tore open the package. The colors were beautiful but I was left stunned when I read the ingredients on these. I had bought a combo pack of polish and lip gloss last year and the gloss didn't contain this garbage.

I sincerely apologize if any of my readers took advantage of this deal. Zoya takes pride in not having dangerous chemicals in their nail polish. So, why are they trying to kill us with their lip gloss?

Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm Ingredients:
Polybutene
Octylodecanol
Polydecene
Microcrystalline Wax
Flavor
Saccharin
HydrogenatedPolyisobutene
Palmitic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Phenoxyethanol
Methylparaben
Ethylparaben
Propylparaben
Butylparaben
Isobutylparaben

'Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me' by Paula Begoun $8

I used to LOVE Paula Begoun, the Cosmetics Cop, back in the day before I educated myself about Parabens and other dangerous chemicals in our products. I completely disagree with her stance on them and that she uses them in the products she now sells on her website. However, she does put out a useful book to what products work and don't work based on ingredients. It's always an interesting read, but I haven't purchased an updated copy in nearly a decade. On her website, Paula is offering the 7th edition for $5 - the 8th edition will be out soon. She also has a $3 flat shipping offer, so you can get the book for $8. I ordered a copy of it yesterday. I wasn't willing to pay $20 for it, but for $8, I'll bite. That's cheaper than I can find it anywhere used.

Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me 7th Edition Link

Zoya 3 Free Lip Glosses (S+H)

RETRACTION!! I ordered 3 of these and upon receiving them, see the entire ingredients list. They are FULL of Parabens. When I purchased glosses as a set last year, they didn't have all this crap in them. I apologize if I misled anyone with this promotion. Please contact Zoya to return them.


Zoya is trying to drive everyone nuts again. This time, it's their lip gloss giveaway. You still have to pay shipping on these, but it's the cost of one of the glosses. They are nice and thick. I am picking up some for Christmas (ugh). My picks were Blog, Rumour, and Gypsy. Shipping was $6.95 for all 3

Code: lips

Here's some nice color swatches on another blog to help you decide: KarlaSugar

Details: Promotion link from the Zoya blog.

FTC to Require Bloggers to Disclose Payments for Reviews

*Soapbox* (Paraben free, of course) Not pointing a finger at any single person, but one of the reasons I stopped watching hauls and reviews on You Tube is that I know a majority of them are reviewing products they were given for free by the manufacturer. I have no issue with that - as long as they explicity say that 'X provided these products at no cost for me to review'. That is frequently not the case.

All of the products I review on this site are paid for out of my own pocket. Sometimes my postings are pretty thin because I just didn't have the money to spend on new goodies. As I have said in previous posts, I don't accept freebies or sample products because I don't feel I can fairly assess something that has been given to me. There is always the expectation of a favorable response and that I will encourage others to purchase. I feel bad for turning down some very nice people, but I want to keep my blog independent. That's the way I roll.

I don't know how this will shake out in the blogging and You Tube community, but I can say it's about darned time! Read the FTC long version below. Celebrity spokespeople can now be held liable for unsubstantiated product claims. Is this the death of the celebrity infomercial?

Here's the FTC long version: FTC Press Release


PHILADELPHIA -

The Federal Trade Commission will require bloggers to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products.

It is the first time since 1980 that the commission has revised its guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, and the first time the rules have covered bloggers.

But the commission stopped short Monday of specifying how bloggers must disclose any conflicts of interest.

The FTC said its commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the final guidelines, which had been expected. Penalties include up to $11,000 in fines per violation.

The rules take effect Dec. 1.

Paraben Soup: Germaben & Phenonip

Slacking again, I know. I have actually been trying out lots of products from different online e-tailers. Small business folks who make and sell their own bath and body products. Folks on Etsy, etc. Well, I was tempted into a website that is having a sale and was loading up my cart because I didn't see any Parabens or Urea on the ingredients list. What I did see was Germaben II and Phenonip. That annoying little voice started squeaking, so I looked them up before placing an order.

Germaben II: Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Phenonip: Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben

Well, that's just full of all kinds of fail. I guess there are so many of us Paraben dodging that chemical companies are now creating their own brews and slapping a pretty name on them. There are probably more of these preservative mixes being used out there and I will update the bad list as I find them.

Another lesson learned, especially for me. Once you have been reading labels and are familiar with the general mixes of products, always research any ingredient that you don't recognize. I emptied my cart and send a polite note to the store owner explaining why she just lost my business. Some people just aren't aware of the Paraben concerns, so we need to speak up.

Elegant Minerals - 50% Sale

Elegant Minerals just sent out a code for 50% off everything on the site. Sept. 15-16 only. There is also a special section for Halloween makeup for kids.

From the e-mail:

September marks 6 wonderful years serving You - our wonderful customers.
We thank all of you who have helped us grow into one of the
Premier Mineral Makeup Companies.

We now have women and stores all over the world switching to Elegant Minerals.
Thanks to everyone for recomending EM.

To help celebrate, we're having a 50% OFF sale!
Two Day's Only!
Sept 15th & 16th 12a-12am CST

Just enter birthday2009 into the coupon box during checkout.

GDA: TJ Maxx Clearance Sale

I had read that people were making incredible hauls from TJ Maxx over on Makeup Alley. Crazy prices like .30 and .50 for full size products. I decided to check my local one out. I didn't have the luck of some of the posters, but I found a few useful items that passed my ingredients test.

The brushes in the green bag are wood and boar bristle. I bought 2 sets. $1.00 each.
Juice Organics Moisturizer. I have wanted to try this for a while. $3.00.
The tin contains fizzing bath sea salt. $.70.
Faith in Nature Seaweed Conditioner. $1.00.

Remember to read your ingredients if you go on an expedition!

Cool Product: Epistick Hair Remover

I just received a nifty thing in the mail. It's called an Epistick and you use it to remove facial hair. It's basically a spring wire with plastic handles. Those of you who remember the original Epilator will recognize how this works. You bend it and twist it as you work up your face.

It seems to do a fantastic job with little face hairs. I just zipped through one side of my face before posting this. Personally, I did not think it hurt. There was a slight pinching feeling, but that was it. These products are recommended for facial hair only. I don't know how it would work elsewhere. If you get one of these, I recommend giving it a good wipedown with alcohol. I do the same thing with razor blades before I use them.

I bought mine off of E-Bay for $2, but you can buy the 'official' version of this which is called Bellabe for $16.99.

Here is a great video demonstration I found of how it works. Very simple.