Monday, December 21, 2009

What's In My Medicine Cabinet?

This post was inspired by a recent post from Fabulously Broke in the City. So what’s in my medicine cabinet?


Are there “Greener” Options Out There?
I’m one of those girls that loves make-up and beauty products, but going forward, I plan to be much more discerning in the way I purchase products. I want to monitor my spending and buy “greener” products with less chemicals. I’ve heard of both Tarte and Josie Maran touted as “greener” make-up options but haven’t yet purchased products from either company. Perhaps when it’s time to replace make-up I have already at some point next year. I love fragrances also, but many of them have loads of chemicals as well, so I’ll start looking for less chemicalized options for those as well.

My Favorite Moisturizer
Shea butter is the best moisturizer I have found out there for dry skin. Other lotions with alcohol as an ingredient leave my skin drier than it was to begin with. Shea is pretty solid and not a creamy consistency in its natural form, so you have to rub it together with your hands before applying, but if you have dry/sensitive skin, it works wonders.

Frequency of Purchases
With the exception of tinted moisturizer, mascara, eye liner and blush, I only purchase make-up about once a year. I try to stretch tinted moisturizer to last beyond six months. I make exceptions when I have to dress up for a special event and may purchase eye shadow to complement my outfit, but since I’ve built up a little collection of options, I haven’t done that recently. I try to have at least one make-up free day a week to let my skin breathe. When I feel like I’ve had a product too long, especially a products like eye shadow, eye liner or mascara, I toss it. I plan to use all of the random items I have accumulated (samples, purchases I probably shouldn’t have made in the first place) and only replace the items below:

Make – up/Beauty Products (Daily)
MAC Studio Tinted Moisturizer
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Bronzer
Aveda stick blush
Body spray perfume (usually from my local drug Store or Bath and Body Works)

Make – up/Beauty Products (Occasionally)
Almay liquid liner
Bare Escentals Mineral Foundation
Maybelline Mascara
MAC Concealer (I’ve never actually purchased this, I’ve been using a sample from MAC)
Eye Shadows (brown, beige, blue, purple, green)
Brow Pencil
Marc Jacobs Original Perfume

Toiletries
Aveeno face wash
Aveeno facial moisturizer with 15 SPF
Tooth paste/Tooth Brush
Shea butter (used mainly in colder months)
Lotion with Shea Butter (used mainly in warmer weather. Pure Shea Butter can be a sticky mess in the summer)
Hot Six Oil (used to moisterize and remove make-up)
Giovanni’s Invigorating Shampoo, Tea Tree Triple Treat
Aveda Dry Remedy Conditioner
Carol’s Daughter Hair Elixir
Carol’s Daughter Hair Butter
Coconut Oil/Olive Oil (I use both for cooking and moisturizing my hair)


It seems like a lot now that I’ve written it down…

6 comments:

eemusings said...

What specific shea butter product do you use and where do you get it from? Sounds like it might be what I need.

Shen Dove said...

@eemusings I have been using shea butter products from a vendor in DC area. Here is the website with all of their products: http://www.sheabutterstore.com/
These products have a nice scent unlike raw shea that smells really plain.

me in millions said...

Keep us posted on your switch to more green products. I'd love to hear more about it.

Anonymous said...

thanks for the tip! will have to try and find a local equivalent. would you not recommend trying raw shea (assuming i could find it?) Boring smells don't bother me :) on the contrary, i prefer them to OTT smells, my sinuses go crazy!

Shen Dove said...

@eemusings Raw (unscented) shea butter is a great moisturizer, I just prefer the lightly scented version I've been using. It's also a bit thick to use in warmer weather but perfect to use right now. I've only ever bought raw shea butter from street vendors but you can find it online here: http://www.amazon.com/100-Organic-West-African-Butter/dp/B0009JQFF6

@me in millions I will definitely keep you posted on the "greener" products I come across.

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com said...

Sounds just like me!

I use shea butter and I mix it with olive oil to give it more of a moisturizer-y feeling, that I still have to rub my palms together to melt

I bought mine at Whole Foods - Karite One from France... $20 USD per tub, but each tub can yield 2 tubs if you mix it with olive oil

I have yet to buy Argan Oil for the face -- I've heard wonderful things about it -- but from a health foods store not from Sephora as it's too expensive on there

And Coconut oil for my hair

Other than that, I'm going to replace most of my items with Boscia, Tarte, and other brands that don't use sulfates, phthlates (sp?) etc...