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By, Shayna Teicher

I keep meaning to post something about this Gel Facial Cleanser with Superfuit  and Chlorella Growth Complex and somehow keep getting distracted. 

So I’m doing it right now, while I have just a few quiet minutes:

I am LOVING this cleanser. It’s NOT for dry skin- for that, Acure makes a really lovely Cream Cleanser with Olive & Mint- which is good, because my skin is oily. The gel has the frothiness and clean feeling that, being an oily-skinned lady, I like in my facewash. There are no sulfates or chemicals that can strip skin’s acid mantle leaving it dry and vulnerable. It takes off my mineral makeup and the daily grime and sweat that come with the sweltering summer days here in Sarasota, FL. It also smells fresh and invigorating- kind of an herbal citrus blend. 

You’d think that would be enough, but it’s also packed with antioxidants (as are all the Acure products) thanks to their unique Curoxidant blend of herbs and superfruits. Organic Acai, Fair Trade Organic Olive Oil and Organic Chlorella Growth Factor boost cell turnover to keep your skin looking its best. I’ve been following this cleanser with Acure’s Rose and Red Tea Toner and Radical Resurfacing Lotion and I think I’ve found my summer love. 

Acure is also incredibly devoted to sustainability and to people. From their certified organic and fair trade ingredients, to the philosophy behind the brand, to their dedication to helping to prevent and cure breast cancer, Acure makes it clear that their mission goes far, far beyond creating a wonderful, safe, effective product for women to love. Their mantra says it all: Acure for your skin, Acure for the planet, Acure for a cure. Works for me!

Originally Posted at Butterfly Effect’s Official Blog

By, Shayna Teicher

don’t do a lot with my hair, but I have a handful of looks that seem to work for me. Some days though, I don’t want to deal with my crazy mane and I just twist it up. Most days it ends up that way anyway. Consequently, there are always bobby pinseverywhere. In the bottom of my purse (and in all the little pockets as well), in my makeup bag, on the nightstand, in the car’s cupholders, in my jean pockets, on the coffee table, the bathroom sink, the kitchen counter, the freezer, the back porch, in the couch, on the roof, in the mailbox…ok, a slight exaggeration perhaps, but you get the point. I’m a bobby pin slob. That’s also a LOT of bobby pins. Eco-friendly? I didn’t think it was, so I went in search of some enlightenment…and found almost none…except this one thing…

Hours online, phone calls Goody and Conair, no one seemed to have a definitive answer regarding a) what metal bobby pins are made of and b) are they recyclable? How many are sold each year in the US?  No idea. I bet it’s a lot though. A few online sources (including some educational ones with experiments using a bobby pin to demonstrate the process of annealing and tempering steel) indicate that bobby pins are generally made out of steel but none of the companies I spoke with could confirm it. If, however this is the case then bobby pins should be recyclable.  I also found “The Bobby Pin Revealed”- I’ll let it speak for itself. 

Brilliantly, however, Goody has just come out with something they call a “spin pin”. Made of nickel (at least the Goody rep on the phone said she “thinks” it’s nickel), this pin looks like a double helix, made to be twisted into your hair to hold it in place. They say it takes the place of 20 bobby pins- while that’s probably a subjective estimate, I can tell you that a single spin pin is all I need to hold my long hair in a bun all day. For more creative looks (or ladies with more hair), you can use the second pin and seriously lock your hair in place. Seriously. While I doubt the “spin pin” is going to replace all my bobby pin needs, it’s certainly earned a permanent (for now, at least) spot in my makeup bag! They also come in two sizes. 

Note: If you have shorter hair (above the shoulders) or your hair is exceptionally fine this may not work the best for you without using a bit of texturizing product first.

Tip: When you’re placing the pin before spinning it into your hair, your goal is to get the two ends positioned with one in the bun and one in the hair at the base, so you’re “locking” the two together as you spin the pin. If you do this right where you’ve tucked the ends of your hair into the bun, you get the most hold. 

Where to get ‘em: just about anywhere that sells Goody hair products- I got mine at Target. 

Originally Posted on Butterfly Effect Beauty’s Official Blog

By, Shayna Teicher
Dear Beauty Chick,…A lovely customer of mine recently asked me when she should throw out makeup (I’m pretty sure she was in the midst of a “spring cleaning bug” as one has hit me recently as well.) So naturally I said “That’s a great question- I’m so glad you asked!” 
As much as we hate to throw out cosmetics and skin care products we never got to use up, it’s even more important not to use something that’s “past its prime”. Open skincare and makeup can become contaminated with microbes, bacteria, etc over time and the result of using an old product can harm more than your wallet. Using expired or contaminated products can result in irritation, mild breakouts or even an infection.  

Before I offer some good rules for keeping your makeup bag free of un-fresh products, keep in mind there are a lot of “guidelines” out there for how often to pitch things, but your main rule of thumb should be to always get rid of anything that now smells, looks or feels different from when it was new, no matter how old (or new) it is (rancid lipstick, for example, often smells a bit like crayons). There is an exception to this, however- some natural creams (Like Sanre Organic Skinfood) can separate a bit as they don’t use any chemical emulsifiers. In these cases, simply stir it back up with a clean utensil to reincorporate. I’ve listed the product types below in order from most frequently replaced to longest lasting.

Mascara: 3-6 months. If you’re using something with preservatives (like a department store brand) you can probably get away with closer to 6. For 100% natural ones (like Honeybee Gardens or Dr. Hauschka) better to play it safe and pitch after 3 months.  

*TIP: Hopefully you all know this one by now, buy it bears repeating- don’t pump your mascara wand, it simply incorporates air into the tube making it dry out faster and inviting bacteria in. To get more product on the wand, swipe it in a circular motion around  the inside of the tube.

Lip Gloss. 6-24 months. I’ve seen sources that say lip gloss is good for up to two years, which it probably is (if you use a clean applicator every time and never leave it in the sun or your car….). The germaphobe in me though, wants to replace my lip gloss every 2-3 months. If you use the same one or two colors every day, they probably won’t last you much longer than that anyway. So there you go, 3 months to two years (I know, not the written in stone answer you were looking for). This is one of those common sense things. If you’ve just battled a cold sore or the flu, probably best to get rid of whatever lip product you were using and get a new one. If you’ve been healthy and your lip gloss still smells, looks, tastes like new, gloss on!

Creams and Liquids: 3-12 months. These can be trickier, new types of packaging (like airless pumps) have greatly extended the shelf- life of some of these products up to a year, but products in open jars/bottles still don’t usually hold up more than 3-6 months. Again, your everyday practices make a big difference as well. If you’re super strict about always using a clean, sanitized brush in your pot of gel eye liner, for example, it’s going to last a lot longer than if keeping you don’t. These include gel & liquid eye liner, cream concealer, liquid foundation, cream eye shadow, etc.

Pressed & Loose Powders: 1-2 years. Most powders can keep for up to two years- whether or not there are preservatives will make a difference here. If you see a paraben or phenoxyethanol in the ingredients and you keep your tools clean, it’ll probably be good through two years. Likewise, loose powders (like pure mineral foundation) that are free of all oils, waxes, additives and preservatives are also good for a few years. Keys to telling if they’re bad are if they have a change in consistency or color or don’t apply as smoothly as they once did or start to feel “chalky”. Pressed powders can also get what looks like a hard “film” on the surface- a sign it’s time to throw it out These include eye shadows, pressed foundation, face powder, pressed & loose blush, etc. 

Pencils, Crayons & Sticks: 1-2 years. These guys can last a few years depending on the formulation and if you keep them clean and sharpen them frequently. But if the product seems drier, smells different or appears cracked or crumbly, it’s time to pitch it, no matter how old it is. This includes: lip pencils, eye liners, lip sticks, “crayons”,  blush sticks, etc.

Originally Posted on Butterfly Effect Beauty’s Official Blog

WHAT’S A BLOTTING PAPER? 

When I mention blotting papers I usually get one of two response: “Oh my gosh- I LOVE blotting papers!” OR “What the hec is a blotting paper?” Either way, most people I know who have tried them, end up being hooked, and for good reason.

Essentially, blotting papers are just what they sound like: little sheets of “paper” used to absorb excess oil on the face or set makeup in place. They usually come in a little pack of some sort. Simply press a sheet (gently) against your skin and the fibers of the paper absorb oil and moisture, eliminating shine but leaving your makeup intact. They’re especially fantastic for oily and combo-skin as they help eliminate the excess oil without having to re-apply powders throughout the day. For the drier skin types, they can help with sweat and humidity. Even guys can use these!

Seems pretty basic, right? So what’s the “eco catch”?. While blotting papers are traditionally a natural product made from some sort of absorbent material (rice paper, silk, linen, and hemp to name a few) and sometimes have additional ingredients (like silk powder or botanicals) on or in them, some companies have managed to complicated this simple concept. They may use other ingredients, including dyes and perfumes in or on the papers and the papers themselves may not even be natural (Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control papers are a great example of this).   

For me, at least, the whole point of blotting papers is to help control oil without putting any chemicals or additional product on the skin. Additionally, as they are single-use and each sheet is thrown away after use, it’s ideal to find papers that are made from sustainable fibers and are also biodegradable

ENTER TATCHA: ABURATORIGAMI JAPANESE BLOTTING PAPERS

 Tatcha’s blotting papers are generously sized- larger than many other blotting papers. They’re also strong and absorbent enough to use both sides- one sheet was plenty to de-shine my oily complexion. In barely seconds they whisk away oil and you can see it on the paper too so you really know it works!  It doesn’t hurt that the packaging is beautiful, too. When asked in a recent interview for the blog Beautylish “These papers are that special?” Tatcha’s founder, Victoria Tsai, answered “Absolutely. It’s unusual to find something truly historical. The further we get along in the future, we must realize that there’s wisdom in the past to look for. I think it’s a beautiful concept to perpetuate old rituals and secrets, and if people in Japan still use it after 300 years, it’s working.” I agree!

 The origin of these papers comes from the heart of imperial Japan. Abura-tori-gami actually means “oil blotting paper” in Japanese and refers specifically to the papers that result from the production of gold-leaf. For centuries gold craftsman used the abaca leaf to protect the gold as they hammered it into whisper-thin gold-leaf which was then used to enrobe the majestic pavilions. What was left was sheets of natural, absorbent abaca paper. Aburatorigami are considered to be the “gold standard” (no pun intended) in blotting papers. It remains a mystery exactly when, but somewhere along the line the geishas realized the benefit of using the discarded papers to keep their makeup flawless and their complexions oil-free. Aburatorigami have been a Japanese beauty staple ever since.

Because Tatcha papers are made from abaca leaf, not only are they strong, soft (no potentially irritating wood pulp) and absorbent, but they’re also environmentally friendly and sustainable. As blogger/professor/ scientist Alastair Iles puts it, “artisans hammer away on old leaf and use the abaca leaf to protect the gold. As such, it’s a by-product from a tradition craft process that’s deeply rooted in Japanese culture, thus using material that might otherwise be thrown away. After the paper is used, it can be composted, as it degrades naturally back into the earth. No oil-based chemicals are used; the energy comes from human, not from fossil fuels. As a result, aburatorigami has relatively low environmental impact.”

TATCHA’S PHILANTHROPY

When the recent natural disaster hit Japan, founder Victoria didn’t hesitate to jump in to find a way to help. Donating all the profits from their March special Kokoroyori Aburatorigami gift set, Tatcha was able to donate $10,000 for disaster relief. They’re also an active supporter of Save the Children, a humanitarian organization that has been active in Japan for over 25 years. In response to this act, Victoria said “In times like these, our friends are our greatest resources. Amidst the tragedy in Japan, there is also astounding beauty in the spirit of the Japanese people working collectively to support survivors. [It was] In appreciation of a culture that inspires us so.” And, as Victoria and Tatcha Aburatorigami were inspired by the traditions of Japan and its people, I’m inspired by Victoria and by a product that demonstrates how green and gorgeous beauty can be. 

Originally Posted at Butterfly Effect’s Blog