Beauty Blog

Eco-friendly packaging focuses on whether the container holding the skin care formula is biodegradable, made from recycled materials or is recyclable itself. This can be a challenge as the products need to be kept safe, clean and undisturbed from the packaging. The materials need to maintain stability for products that contain water or oils. The reality is that the cosmetics themselves could start to prematurely breakdown the packaging and lead to a shorter shelf life. In some ways, eco-friendly packaging can also help customers avoid certain chemicals if that's a concern. In recent years there has been some concern over whether the chemicals in plastic packaging can be harmful to our health. Think BPA and phthalates. These chemicals are thought to be endocrine disruptors and possible carcinogens, The beauty industry is constantly reinventing itself; coming up with better, safer, and cleaner products every day. But when is the last time you took a close look at your beauty shelf and updated it to be as green as you could be? What are Recycled & Biodegradable Packaging? Making sure the packaging of your beauty products is "green" is one of the easiest ways to improve your footprint on the Earth. Biodegradable packaging breaks down in only 3 to 6 months which is a huge step forward compared to original plastics which can take several hundred years. The best option is "no-waste" packaging, which doesn't necessarily mean a lack of packaging altogether. Technically"no waste" is meant to refer to products where no portion is sent to landfills, oceans or incinerated. Packaging options that can be recycled include biodegradable paper or cardboard, metal containers and glass bottles and jars. The biodegradable paper is often used for the boxes and outer packaging of the products. Biodegradable paper is often coated with potato or corn (as opposed to plastic). This kind of packaging made a boom in the late 00s and early 10s and is widely available in the beauty industry. Brands like Pravana, Onesta, Matrix Biolage RAW, AG and more have been produced in these more eco-friendly packages for years now. Some companies have now also made another large step forward by making the packaging out of recycled material and biodegradable. One company, for example, is the Matrix Biolage RAW. Every bottle is made from recycled plastic, is recyclable and the contents are formulated in a factory the is powered 100% by the sun. Now that is a green option for your shower! (Look for the symbol when shopping at BeautyCareChoices.com) What else can you do? Make the switch to multi-use products! Items like cleansing conditioners have come a long way in the last 5 years. They are a great alternative to having both shampoo and conditioner in your shower. If you aren't ready to make that big of a switch consider using your shampoo also as a body wash and your conditioner can double as a shaving cream. On your makeup counter use items like a tinted moisturizer as a base instead of sunscreen, primer, and moisturizer. Jane Iredale's Dream Tint is a great example. It carries SPF 15, Jojoba and Shea Butter for moisture and minimizes pore and lines like a primer. Bam! Used to use three products, now all found in this one!

It can often be confusing when brands tout the virtues of their products, especially the differences between vegan, organic and cruelty free. As Beauty Care Choices continues its commitment to the Clean Salon , you will see these symbols associated with brands, brand lines and products. For you to continue making safer choices on what beauty products you purchase, we want to be sure you understand what these terms mean. CRUELTY-FREE Cruelty-free means that the products, and the ingredients that were used in the product, were not tested on animals at any stage during their development. Many brands do go through the processes of being PETA or Leaping Bunny certified, but what about the brands that don't? This does not mean they do test on animals, just that they haven't gone through those larger companies. Also, some brands may not test on animals here in the states but do in other world-wide market places. We are doing the research for you, so you can make a well-informed purchase. VEGAN FRIENDLY Vegan means that the products contain no animal ingredients or animal by-products. This includes well known ingredients like honey, beeswax, gelatin, yogurt and other less obvious animal by-products like: Lanolin (wool grease) which in common in lip products. Shellac (from lac bugs) used in some nail products. Squalene (shark liver oil) used in lip balms, deodorants and moisturizers. Carmine (crushed beetles) to create a red color for lipsticks, blushes, nail polish. Ambergris (sperm whale vomit) in perfumes ORGANIC Across the USA, UK and Australia, certified "organic" has a very similar definition. The FDA has started regulating brands use of the word "organic", meaning for brands to openly market themselves as organic there are hoops to be jumped through. We are asking the questions and looking into all of our brands being organic or not. That way you know, even if they don't outright say it. If you're buying certified organic generally your products (food or the ingredients in your cosmetics, for example) come for a farming system which uses: . No manufactured herbicides or artificial fertilizers. No artificial or synthetic colors, preservatives or chemicals (including parabens and sulfates). No routine use of antibiotics. No GMOs (genetically modified organisms) or growth regulators. Very limited number of pesticides allowed. More sustainable land management.

Discover sustainable beauty that will bring health and well-being to all it touches! -Renewable, beneficial, plant-based, color safe ingredients -Certified Organic Extracts -90% post consumer recycled bottles -100% certified wind power -100% recycled fiber containers -Vegan -PETA approved -No animal testing. Because everything matters to NEUMA, their pledge is to bring the consumer hair care products that are genuinely created with a true passion for our environment... "We refuse to formulate with 13 different classes of ingredients that are known or suspected skin sensitizers, endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic, damage the environment, contribute to climate change or otherwise compromise your hair health or the planet." Neuma brand lines include: neuControl - Both aerosol and non-aerosol hair sprays. neuMoisture - Puts the bounce, body, and shine back into dry hair and curls. neuRepair - strengthens and restores damaged hair. neuSmooth - for a frizz free style with lots of shine. neuVolume - to add fullness to thin hair. reNeu - a deep weekly cleanse to remove residue from styling products & hard water. Neuma believes forcing you to choose between your style and your health is no choice at all! "Clean" has become a dirty business, there comes a time when you can no longer pretend the products you choose to use don't, won't or can't impact hair, health or the planet. Neuma's recognized by the industry as one of the best brands around. They are proud to be an industry favorite and are not shy about telling you! Neuma has won awards for many of there products, in 2017 Renu Shampoo, Renu Conditioner, and Neurepair Argan oil Treatment won the readers choice award. Also in 2017 Neusmooth Shampoo won the Spa and Wellness Product award! Healing Lifestyles Earth Day Beauty also gave Neuma awards for the Neumoisture Intensive Masque and the Neucontrol non-aerosol hairspray. They also won the stylists choice award from Behind the Chair, which if you follow the beauty industry you already know how big of a deal that is! .

Family owned and operated, Kevin and Mare Wachs began creating quality, natural personal care products from their garage, which blossomed into the respected organic empire Earthly Body is today. The Wachs Family & their Earthly Body Team are deeply dedicated to their eco-friendly values; from the use of recyclable packaging to giving back by planting trees for the future and going solar at their headquarters that serves as the manufacturing, bottling, warehouse, and International Education Center. Earthly Body is passionately committed to the future by finding innovative ways of reducing their carbon footprint which is reflected throughout every aspect of their organization. Earthly Body Science This company's incredible and significant strive towards organic sustainability is crystal clear from their all-natural ingredient list that is infused into Earthly Body Products. Organic Hemp Seed Oil Containing the highest levels of Omega 3 and 6 Essential Fatty Acids of all the natural oils, Hemp Seed Oil delivers nourishment and protection while repairing and softening damaged skin. Argan Oil Known to strengthen the protein structures of your skin to revitalize dryness and dullness while tightening and revitalizing to prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and stretch marks. Avocado Oil Rich in vitamins with high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids and Sterolins to reduce the appearance of dark spots while softening and smoothing. Ideal for aiding to reverse damage caused by the aging, dryness, and sun exposure. Apricot Oil A superior nourishing ingredient to improve the overall health of your skin with antioxidants and Vitamins A, C, and E. Coconut Oil A rich smoothing oil that combats the signs of aging on the skin with high levels of magnesium and lower levels of calcium. Jojoba Oil Quick absorbing Jojoba oil softens and smooths all skin types while tightening to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for younger feeling skin. Soybean Oil Containing large amounts of protein and calcium to promote fast absorption, deep penetration of the oil, rejuvenation, and longevity of youthful skin. Vitamin E Encourages deep repair with it's nourishing, antioxidant-rich repair qualities to naturally heal damaged skin cells while minimizing the appearance of blemishes, scars, and uneven skin tone. What ingredients does Earthly Body not use? Earthly Body uses only natural ingredients and their products contain none of the following : No Parabens No Phthalates No Mineral Oil No Sulfates No Artificial Dyes No Propylene Glycol No Animal Ingredients No Animal Testing Earthly Body's Marrakesh line is dedicated to nourishing your hair with nature, delivering the highest quality ingredients to give you gorgeous and healthy hair. All products feature natural Argan and Hemp Oil for protection, strength and superior shine. Marrakesh's Argan Oil is sourced exclusively from women-led Argan cooperatives in Morocco. Press: Co-founder Kevin Wach made the cover of Beauty Store Business Magazine. Earthly Body Participates in the Victory for Victims 5K Walk/Run that benefits Center for. Assault Treatment Services. Featured in Earthbound Trading's New Hippie Holiday Guide. Featured in Vegan Cuts Beauty Box. Featured in FabFitFun lifestyle box. Featured in Modern Salon Awards: . 2nd Place for Best Island Booth at ISSE. Earthly Body & CBD Daily Winner featured in Naked Food Magazine's 2017 Holiday Gift Guide. Best Body Care Line of the Year 2017 at the StorErotica Magazine Awards Giving Back: . Rock the Cure 2 for Cancer Research. Trees for the Future. Supports the Humane Cosmetics Act. Supports Growing & Farming of Industrial Hemp as a sustainable resource. Get Together Foundation. All-Star Charity Concert. The Care Concert with MC Kelly Osbourne - We Can California Campaign with ticket sales going towards ending homelessness in Southern Ca.

When dealing with sensitive skin, washing your face can be more simple than you think. The care of sensitive skin is important and starts with a daily routine of keeping your face clean. There is a right and wrong way to wash your face, whether you have sensitive skin or not. The skin of your face is always exposed to many elements and is affected by sun exposure, debris, environmental pollutants, and the ingredients in your skincare products or makeup. Understanding what your skin needs to stay healthy and to combat the harmful things it's exposed to daily, is the key to managing sensitive skin, starting with how you wash your face! 1. Know Your Sensitive Skin Type With sensitive skin, it's not only important to know if you have dry, oily, combination, or normal skin, but also what type of irritation you're prone to. For example, you may have dry but acne-prone skin which requires special needs, or oily skin with flaky patches. No matter which type or skin condition, choose as few products as possible for your daily routine. Using too many products or constantly adding or trying new ones, can exacerbate your delicate skin. 2. How to Choose the Best Cleanser for Your Sensitive Skin There are many types of sensitive skin. Just because a particular cleanser works for someone else with sensitive skin, it may not work for you. A self-patch test can help if you haven't checked with your dermatologist for ingredients you may be sensitive to. There are general guidelines you need for choosing the best cleanser for the care of your sensitive skin: Avoid products with fragrance. Only use fragrance-free products. Not only does fragrance contain numerous toxins, but it can flare up skin conditions or cause allergies. Plant ingredients in products may sound nice and "natural", but nothing is further from the truth. Most plants contain harsh preservatives to prevent mold, even if it's not listed on the label. Some of the most common allergy-producing ones include plant extracts, and essential oils, including lavender, peppermint, menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor. Most anti-aging or treatment products contain harsh ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or retinol. Learn what your skin needs to be healthy and youthful, and choose skin care based on that, not what the label promises. Formaldehyde, parabens, and alcohol are some of the other ingredients to look out for and avoid. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a harsh detergent found in many cleansers and most soaps. It can leave your face stripped of oil. Since SLS is the common ingredient in soaps, it's best to avoid them. Facial wipes may also contain harsh ingredients as well. Waterproof makeup may be hard to clean off your face. There are more gentle ways to clean your face of makeup, as described below, than with harsh soaps and makeup removers. 3. How to Wash Your Sensitive Skin . For dry sensitive skin wash your face with a gentle mild lotion-based cleanser. These types are hydrating and will not leave your face feeling tight and itchy. Dry skin doesn't need to use an exfoliator. These abrasive scrubs can damage your skin. If you tend to have breakouts, then a gentle exfoliating scrub should only be used once a week at the most. Wash once a day at night time with your cleanser, rinsing off well with warm or cool water, never hot. Gently pat dry with a soft towel. Make sure not to scrub too hard when washing your face or drying. Apply a gentle hypoallergenic fragrance-free moisturizer within 3 minutes of washing your face. Opt for a cream or oil moisturizer, but stay away from mineral oil, lanolin, and petrolatum types of ingredients. These contain emollients, but also unnecessary contaminants. In the morning only rinse, since washing with a cleanser may dry your skin more. Once a day cleansing is sufficient for dry skin. Washing too frequently will not help skin hydration, but make it more dry. To remove makeup that your cleanser won't get off, use a cotton or cosmetic pad with a cream moisturizer. This will clean off the makeup without drying your skin. Follow with washing your face as described. If you have oily or acne-prone sensitive skin you may think antibacterial soap is what you need, but these are irritating and can be drying. A gentle exfoliating scrub can be helpful to remove dead surface cells, allowing healthy, clear skin to surface. A gentle scrub can be used as often as once or twice a week. Avoid harsh abrasive scrubs. 4. How to wash your sensitive oily skin. . Use a gentle, oil-free lotion or gel cleanser. Always use an alcohol-free toner with alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) following washing your face. This completes the cleaning of pores and helps balance the pH of your skin, which is important for an even tone complexion. Wash two times a day, before you go to bed and when you wake up. Wash your hands, and wet your face with lukewarm water. Gently clean without scrubbing. Rinse with lukewarm water. If the water is too hot, the oily layer of your skin, called sebum, will be affected. To remove waterproof makeup, use a makeup pad with a light oil-free lotion. This will be the same lotion to moisturize after washing your face. To dry, pat your face with a soft small towel or washcloth. Change towels daily if you have acne. Combination skin is tricky since you have dry areas as well as oily sections on your face. Be practical and cleanse dry and oily areas appropriately.

Kenra Professional has just introduced its Shaping Hairspray 21, the first professional NO ALCOHOL working hairspray. This is a big deal for those who use hairspray frequently. Why? First, we need to define a couple of words. A finishing hairspray dries quickly. It is meant to be used when hair is completely styled. A working hairspray dries less quickly. It is meant to be used to shape and style hair. We all know alcohol can dry out your hair. Alcohol is very effective at removing oils and anything oil-like from hair. This is a major downside of alcohol in any formula. Alcohol is also a solvent that causes hair to swell, so if the hair is too well-cleaned and not protected by emollients (silicones, oils, some conditioning ingredients), the hairspray can encourage dehydration, dullness, and loss of elasticity. Alcohol in a working hairspray will stay on the hair longer. If you are using your working spray to style, you likely may also be using heat styling tools. Since the working spray is not meant to dry quickly, the alcohol has more chance to dry and dull the hair. So a working hairspray with no alcohol means you have more working time available to style and have your hairspray still be effective. It also means you have maximum moisture retention. Kenra's Shaping Spray 21 has an extra firm hold and high shine. We love it and know you will too! Get yours today with Beauty Care Choices!

Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7 or H, is a B vitamin found in small amounts in a number of foods, such as eggs and nuts. It is often added to oral hair growth supplements to nourish thinning hair and help promote hair growth. One symptom of biotin deficiency can be thinning hair or discoloration (graying) of hair. A diet rich in biotin, or hair growth supplements containing the B vitamin, can help promote existing hair growth and keeping the pigment cells in the hair follicles healthy. How does biotin help hair growth? Your hair is made of keratin, which is a type of protein. Proteins are built from amino acids, which are formed as a result of the reaction of cell enzymes and biotin. Biotin is used primarily for alopecia (hair loss) in men or women. It improves hair growth and helps with inflammation. The hair follicle, the skin and the nails all benefit. The biotin in your body contributes to the production of healthy hair and nails, by providing an essential ingredient in the process of hair growth. Although biotin has many benefits for strengthening hair, it is not enough to take biotin alone. If only our bodies could be so easily manipulated! The reality is that the role of biotin is one part of a bigger picture. The real miracle worker is improving overall nutrition by ensuring that you supply your hair follicles with all of the vitamins and minerals (including zinc & Vitamin C) they need to promote hair growth.

Copernicia Cerifera Wax, also called Carnauba Wax, is obtained from the leaves of the Brazilian tropical palm tree, Copernicia Cerifera. The wax is harvested by hand during the dry months of September through February when the leaves are sun-dried and beaten to release the wax. The process doesn't harm the tree. It is used in the formulation of a wide range of products including baby products, bath products, lipstick, makeup, fragrances, coloring and non-coloring hair products, nail and skin care products, personal cleanliness products, and shaving products. Carnauba wax has a high melting point, which makes it ideal for improving the thermostability of your cosmetics. A high melting point allows products like lip balms, deodorants, makeup, and even candles to be heated to a high temperature while maintaining their composition. This improves their shelf life and shape. Waxes help to keep an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, especially in cosmetics and personal care products that require a creamy consistency. These waxes also increase the thickness of the lipid (oil) portion of solid and stick-like products such as lipstick, giving them structure, allowing for a smooth application, and keeping them solid. When used in eye makeup, the waxes stiffen but do not harden the product, and the flexibility and plasticity of the waxes facilitate application. These waxes may also function in depilatory products to remove unwanted hair mechanically. Carnauba Wax is the hardest of the commercial vegetable waxes. It is a tough, amorphous, lustrous wax that varies in color from dirty yellow to brown, green, or white. This wax is sometimes called Brazil Wax.

Cocamide DEA, or cocamide diethanolamine, is a fatty acid derivative that is used in many cosmetics and personal care products, including shampoos, hand soaps, hair dyes, bath products, and lotions. It's used as a foaming agent, emulsifying agent, and surfactant to help keep products stable, thicken them, and reduce surface tension between compounds. Foaming agent: Increases foaming capacity and stabilizes foam. Emulsifying agent: Helps keep ingredients blended and prevents them from separating. Surfactant: Reduces surface tension between different compounds Cocamide DEA is a viscous, amber-colored liquid that comes from coconut oil. It's made by chemically altering the fatty acids in coconut oil with a chemical called ethanolamine or diethanolamine. The process creates foaming agents and emulsifying agents. According to the FDA, there's no reason to be concerned about the use of cocamide DEA in cosmetics. However, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Board says that cocamide DEA can react with other ingredients to create harmful substances called nitrosamines. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that cocamide DEA is safe in rinse-off products and in leave-on products at concentrations of 10% or less. However, cocamide DEA has been rated as moderate for cancer and allergies, and immunotoxicity, and high for use restrictions. The State of California also lists cocamide DEA as a chemical known to cause cancer or birth defects. Be sure to read the label on your personal care products. .

Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is an organic compound derived from coconut oil that you can find in a many of your "natural" "organic" skin care and hair care products. CAPB is created by mixing raw coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, creating what is known as an amphoteric surfactant. When used in shampoos and soaps, it creates a thick lather. When used in a conditioner, it becomes an anti-static agent. Cocamidopropyl betaine may be plant-derived or synthetic, with either form considered generally safe for use in cosmetic products. It is considered low risk for sensitizing skin, although impurities resulting from poor manufacturing can increase the risk. CAPB has been known to cause allergic reactions in some users. There have been studies done related to this ingredient that in certain cases it may cause irritant skin reactions, such as rashes. It may also cause significant eye irritation. Cocamidopropyl betaine was voted 2004 Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.